I wish there were simple answers to some of the big issues Victoria is facing re: affordable housing, density, as well as crises like drug overdoses and doctor shortages. Here are some deeper dives into housing affordability, as that’s my main focus this election:
1. I wish the Missing Middle Initiative had been named something else… perhaps Affordable Housing Now!! It would have been so much better. The fact that the Missing Middle Initiative (MMI) used so much money and staff time and produced something so devoid of solutions for affordable housing shows that something was very wrong on council.
2. The MMI needs to be revamped to include:
a. density increases in single family neighborhoods like Fairfield, James Bay, Fernwood and other single family zoned areas that don’t destroy mature trees, do produce non-profit and affordable housing, and don’t just become another tool for developers to prosper. In a published interview, city staff admitted they had no idea how many single family homes already had secondary suites in Victoria. On our street in Fairfield, at least 50% do, and some have two suites or a suite and a garden suite. It would be a shame to lose existing homes that do provide more density already.
If the MMI were passed as now proposed, a single family house could be torn down and replaced with the 6 unit building. Those units would be 500-600 sq ft each and sell for at least $500,000. If they were rented out, they’d have to be at least $2500 per month.
Those units would not benefit people who are working for $15-$25/hour, much less people who are at risk of homelessness.
The private market will not supply affordable housing happen and never has. If those units were built by or dedicated to and managed by Cool Aid, Pacifica, Victoria Housing Society, or another non-profit, they would remain affordable, even if they didn’t accommodate families with children very well.
2. The Inclusionary Zoning By-Law, which we all thought would produce more non-profit units, has been a failure. It applies only to strata buildings, and gives the developer the option of designating 20% of units affordable rentals (the part we were so excited about), or 5% affordable units for sale, or making a cash contribution to the city’s housing fund. Guess what the developers have done? Of course they have chosen the cash contribution as it costs them so much less in the end.
When city staff come back with a plan to make it not only faster and easier to get approval for non-profit and private developments, but have a solid relocation plan for existing tenants, and an absolute non-profit unit requirement for private developments, we’ll be on our way to a denser city that makes sense for the real needs of working people in Victoria. Until then, candidates who would approve the MMI as it stands are handing millions to developers and speculators. Victoria will simply get more unaffordable for more and more people.
3. David Eby’s new housing policy (see link below) is an excellent one. I wish I had more trust that it will be implemented.
BC Housing and our non-profit NGO’s like Cool Aid, Pacifica, and Victoria Housing Society, as well as Threshold and others, have been building as fast as they can. It’s not enough. Canada has 4% of its housing stock as non-profit housing. Most European countries have 15% to 29%. We are so behind and need innovative solutions now! The MMI as it now stands is not that. I hope it will be when the new council directs staff to make it so.
4. I may have to withdraw my vote for Stephen Hammond, as he has been so biased against people who are homeless and at risk of being homeless. His opposition to sheltering in Beacon Hill Park was very aggressive. He has also opposed supported social housing projects in Victoria. That history makes it hard for me to believe his well-reasoned platform for opposing the MMI puts him in my trust zone.
5. I would like to vote for Krista Loughton, but I find her understanding of municipal bylaws and governance far too thin.
I would like to support Susan Kim, whose analysis around social housing is very sound. I fear, however, that her support for the MMI as it stands means it’s unlikely that the affordable and non-profit units we so desperately need more of, will result.
6. Again, it’s not that I support Stephen Andrew. I just can’t support Marianne Alto either. Maybe that means I won’t vote for anyone for mayor.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/
Eby’s new housing policy. I wish I could trust that it will be implemented. The BC NDP is awash in broken promises.
https://www.focusonvictoria.
urban forest article by someone who is a renter and moved to Duncan to afford housing
https://apsc.ubc.ca/news/2022/
By Patrick Condon. Prof of Architecture, UBC. Why densification is not enough and gives all the benefits to those who own the land.
Who I’m Voting For and My Criteria
Candidates must understand that affordable rental housing is the most important issue facing residents of the city.
They must have had an innovative or original thought and/or some analysis of the issues.
They must NOT be VIVA/People’s Party of Canada.
The Missing Middle Initiative must be completely revamped in order to reflect the documented evidence that more housing doesn’t mean affordable housing. Every piece of land and every housing dollar must be put into non-profit/subsidized and rent geared to income housing. This housing must not only be approved faster, but must also be part of every private development.
Cash contributions cannot be accepted in lieu of non-profit units, which must be managed by non-profit organizations. The cost of buying units is a separate issue, and cannot be allowed to obscure the importance of affordable rental units. The MMI as it stands only benefits developers and does nothing for renters or affordable home buyers. Reports from all over Europe have shown that more units does not help affordability at all. They must be non-profit/non-market units.
After affordable rents, affordable/free public transit deserves at least as much priority and funding as bike lanes and electric chargers.
Council:
Ben Isitt: He has consistently had innovative ideas and has opposed the MMI. His motion to send it back to staff for more emphasis on affordable housing was passed at the last council meeting of this council.
Marg Gardiner: Marg has opposed the MMI and has spoken out on noise, pollution and other James Bay issues over the years.
Stephen Hammond: He has opposed the MMI and has the analysis and ideas to restructure it.
William Scott: He has similar analysis to Stephen Hammond.
Steve Orcherton: His analysis of housing needs in Victoria is one of the best articulated I’ve heard.
Khadoni Chambers
Dave Thompson
School Board:
Angela Carmichael, former VCPAC Chair. She is an incumbant with recommendations from a number of neighbors. The recommendations below come from her.
Mavis David who is an indigenous parent and I hear good things about. We certainly need an indigenous voice on the board.
Matthew Cook from Greater Victoria Acting Together, a coalition of faith groups, unions and others working on affordable housing and increased mental health services, is another person I recognize as having supported our work against the cuts last year.
Rob Paynter
Karin Kwan is a budget genius. She co-wrote an alternative budget last year, that would save strings programs and Youth and Family councillors. She is very pro music, and I really think she can do the job while getting along with everyone. We don’t have time or space for the personal agendas we’ve seen in the past.
Esther Callo is very feisty, and the best research analyst I’ve ever seen. She worked and continues to work with Friends of Vic High to dispute the land use there. as well as the legality of the lease to the city. She has been a parent in this district for many many years, and she is very able to decide the best route towards compromise. I’ve worked with both her & Karin, and those women are the real deal.
Justin Lee is a young man, a former SD61 student who went through the music program and it is very dear to his heart. He is a world traveler and can see issues through many perspectives. He knows first hand what it can be like navigating through this school system, and may very well have the vision to fix it.
Ann Whitiaker
Diane McNally
Nicole Duncan