P. Gurstein & M. Young UBC, Vancouver, Canada

Collective rights as citizens to the city and the processes of urbanization – to live in dignity

“…the city is splitting into different separated parts, with the apparent formation of many ‘microstates’” “…in the hands of a small political and economic elite who are in the position to shape the city more and more after their own particular needs and hearts’ desire” David Harvey Rebel Cities: From the Right to the City to the Urban Revolution

Amorphous —everything so anything? Community or Communities Housing Diversity and Scarcity

 No National Housing Strategy  “Affordability Gap”: gap between income and costs  Nearly ¼ of Canadian households spend 30% or more of their gross household income on housing  13.5% of households are in “core housing need”  Homelessness has grown dramatically – up to 300,000 across Canada…UN Rapporteur 2009: “crisis of homelessness and inadequate housing”  Aboriginal communities have worst housing in Canada  28% of Aboriginal households living off-reserve are in “core housing need”  On-reserve housing is inadequate

 Ranked as the 2 nd worst in the world for homeownership affordability  High Housing Prices and Low Average Incomes: ▪ Average income is one of lowest in Canada - $71,140; ▪ benchmark price of single family, detached house almost $1 million  Rental vacancy rates are among the lowest in Canada at 2.6 %  Highest average rent in Canada  Homelessness and Housing Insecurity… HEDGE CITY

one of the poorest neighbourhoods in North America… SRO, homeless, addiction and mental Illness, infestations of bed bugs and vermin strong community activism and solidarity

“This land is still First Nations land and is under treaty negotiations. Until that’s settled, people camping there can stay as long as they need, during the housing crisis created by the three levels of Colonial Government.” “We will stay here until people have homes,” she said. “Nobody wants to be here. People want to have homes.”

green, leafy streets… typical single family detached house value over 2 million dollars

“We are chiefly concerned by the five-storey massing at the south end of the proposed building.” “The transition is abrupt and the juxtaposition of single-family homes with a five-storey structure is jarring.” Dunbar Residents Association

 Citizenship values  Community consultation  Environmental sustainability  Transit  Public leadership: social housing, resource, legislation  Governmental Co-operation

 Range of tenure models  Mixed income communities  Social housing revival  Rent bank  Tax speculation  Income support programmes  Residential tenancy law  Community Land Trusts