In addition, on October 21 2016, the BC Rental Housing Coalition submitted their consultation paper to Let’s Talk Housing, the federal government’s national housing strategy consultation process. The BC Rental Housing Coalition is comprised of various rental housing stakeholders, including the non-profit, cooperative, private and municipal housing sectors along with homelessness and Aboriginal housing providers, and seniors’ and tenant advocates.
The submission identifies elements of an overarching policy framework and vision statement to help support a self-sustaining, dynamic, and sophisticated housing sector capable of ensuring that all British Columbians have access to decent and affordable housing. In addition, the response highlights specific policy issues that are required to address housing needs in British Columbia.
Key recommendations in the submission include:
- Ensuring federal affordable housing dollars are allocated on a per-needs basis rather than a per-capita basis, in order to reflect proportionally greater housing need in BC;
- Linking federal transportation and affordable housing investments to ensure affordable rentals are located near frequent transit networks;
- Creating a crisis-response framework to end homelessness in BC and Canada more broadly.
In addition, the response provides more specific policy options for inclusion in the national housing strategy that is within the domain of the federal government. These options include, but are not limited to:
- Stimulating the production and protection of private and subsidized rental housing through tax credits and favorable financing and funding schemes.
- Supporting tenants through new investments for prevention models, tenant benefits, and resources to help mitigate the effects of expiring operating agreements.
- Facilitating a more holistic approach to housing policy that incorporates transportation, health, justice, aboriginal affairs, and homelessness policy.