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Check the stophomelessness website frequently for the latest news and resources
Excerpts from the Tyee Newspaper by Tom Sandborn, March 30 2009
Metro Vancouver/GVRD “Still on Our Streets” report conducted Spring 2008
- homeless count identifies couch surfers as “sheltered homeless”
- people that lived in housing with no running water and no heat were considered homeless
- time-limited housing such as women’s transition houses and second stage housing were counted as homeless.
Judy Graves, who since 1991 has served as Vancouver’s coordinator of tenant assistance, effectively the city’s point person on homelessness said she is worried the province might take over the Metro Vancouver homeless count, which has in the past produced information critical of government programs.
Recently B.C. Auditor General John Doyle issued a report criticizing the province for failing to solve the homeless problem and urging its efforts be focused much more effectively. “The continuing increase in the number of homeless count suggests a lack of success in managing homelessness, let along reducing it,” the report said.
The Ministry of Housing and Social Programs Criteria introduced Feb 2009
- living in public spaces,
- abandoned buildings or tent cities,
- for more than 30 days.
Not Categorized as Homeless
- couch surfing (sleeping on a friends couch or floor),
- people who have lost housing 2 or 3 weeks ago and are sleeping in a downtown doorway are technically still house,
- people are considered housed who are living in inadequate housing with no running water and no heat,
- people living in time-limited housing such as women’s transition houses or second stage housing.
How Does the Federal Government Define Low Income?
The Federal government uses the Low Income Cutoff Line to define “low income” The 2006 LICOs for a city are:
1 person $21,199; 2 persons $26,392; 3 persons $32,446; 4 persons $39,393
What percentage of Income Should People pay for Housing?
B.C. Housing uses 30%, which is the highest percentage of income that should be paid on shelter costs.
How Much Income do People on Welfare, Disability, Seniors Pensions and Minimum Wage, a low Income Line Wage, and Various other Wages get, and How much Rent can They Afford per month?
Welfare for a single person: $610 in total; $375 designated for shelter
Disability for a single person: $906 in total; $375 for shelter
Minimum government
pension for seniors: about $1000 in total; $333 for shelter
Minimum wage ($8 an hour,
full time, full year): $1387 in total; $416 for shelter
Wage required to meet LICO
maximum for single person ($10.19 an hour): $1767 in total; $530 for shelter
$15
an hour wage: $2600 in total; $780 for shelter
$20 an hour wage: $3467 in total;
$1040 for shelter
How much rent is required to pay for a 400 sq ft market unit (for a single person) in the DTES?
According to pro forma work by the Building Community Society - $1200/mo or $23.08/hr.
Couples and families would require larger units.
What is the lowest wage you could have and afford to buy a condo on the DTES?
Condos average between $300,000 to $500,000 for a one bedroom
Example: $300,000 One Bedroom Condo
$50,000 down (difficult for low income person), 30 yr mortgage at 6% interest
Mortgage payments: $1499/mo
Maintenance Fee $ 300/mo
Total $1800/mo
A person would have to earn $60,000 (or combine two people) = 30% of income or $28.85/hr for one person or $14.42/hr per person (if two people)
Define Low Income?
What are issues that lead to homelessness: why do people end up on the streets?
- The need for affordable housing, low income earners and too high rents.
- Some homeless are “hard to house” or “at risk” and need supportive housing.
- Some homeless find supportive housing too threatening and they balk at minimal barrier shelters.
- Homeless find an “indoor park” with a sense of community and homeliness without feeling institutionalized.
- Mental Illness, drugs.
- We are a mild climate in Vancouver so we have migration from other provinces.
- Homeless amongst the senior has increased 316% since 2002.
- The “hidden” homelessness, with limited systematic knowledge is showing homelessness amongst immigrants and refugees, resulting in under presentation in the populations using homeless shelters.
(Excerpts taken from The CCAP Tuesday May 9 2009, to Vancouver City Mayor and Council)
Why should we preserve the Downtown as a low-income community?
Many DTES residents are very community-minded. Low income people know how to share, which is the basis of community development. When you have less, you exchange more. In the DTES there is a highly developed sense of friendship, neighborliness and community based on the practice of sharing resources.
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This page on HOMELESSNESS is continued from the more recent Advocacy Page
January 15, 2010
As the Street Priest of LUMS, along with Pastor Paul Gehrs' e-mail dated Dec 12, 2009, I am asking for your congregation's support in the passing of Bill C-304. It is due for its 3rd Reading sometime in February. The following is a summary:
"On September 30, 2009 the House of Commons passed Libby Davies' private member's bill for a National Housing Strategy, also known as C-304, which now comes before the human resources committee. The bill requires the federal government to work with provincial, territorial, municipal and aboriginal counterparts to establish a Canada-wide housing strategy. Such a strategy would address Canada's housing crisis to ensure the cost of housing does not interfere with the ability to meet other basic needs like food and access to education."
I am encouraging all churches to get involved and if you feel strongly that Bill C-304 is "an act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians", PLEASE HAVE YOUR CONGREGATION PARTICIPATE IN THE SIGNING OF THE ATTACHED PETITION IN SUPPORT OF A NATIONAL HOUSING STRATEGY.
Attached to this letter is a copy of one petition (you may make several copies). At the end of February beginning of March the petitions can be mailed, postage free, to:
Ms. Libby Davies, MP, 551S Centre Block, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6.
Thank you for taking the time to get involved in your community. It makes such a huge difference in the lives of so many people.
Yours in Christ
Pastor Brian Heinrich, Street Priest
This letter re advocacy issues was sent by LUMS to the churches of British Columbia regarding Bill C-304