In British Columbia, the promise of housing as a human right is cracking under the weight of systemic inequities and bureaucratic inertia. Behind the glossy high-rises and progressive rhetoric lies the sobering truth: thousands remain trapped in precarious, unsafe, or unaffordable living conditions.
A recent report by the Federal Housing Advocate exposes deep fractures in BC’s housing landscape, outlining failures across core dimensions of adequate housing: security of tenure, availability of services, affordability, habitability, accessibility, location, and cultural adequacy. Drawing on firsthand testimonies, government data, and systemic analysis, the findings reveal an unsettling truth: housing policies in British Columbia have often failed to prioritize equity and human dignity.
Building on insights from the Federal Housing Advocate’s findings, this investigation dives into the core elements of the right to housing, exposing the systemic barriers residents face and the urgent need for reform. By addressing eviction rates, unsafe conditions, and the growing influence of housing financialization, the article highlights a housing landscape crying out for both immediate solutions and systemic transformation.
The Fragile Foundation of Housing Stability
For British Columbians, security of tenure—the assurance that tenants cannot be arbitrarily evicted—is increasingly tenuous. Over 10% of renters reported being evicted within five years, the highest rate nationwide. The roots of this crisis lie in exploitative practices like “cash-for-keys” buyouts, where tenants are coerced into leaving for a nominal payout, and “renovictions,” where landlords evict under the pretense of renovations only to relist units at inflated rents.
Supportive housing programs, intended to provide stability for vulnerable populations, are no refuge. Many tenants in these facilities operate under “program agreements,” which bypass protections enshrined in the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA). These agreements grant landlords and non-profit operators sweeping powers to issue 24-hour evictions, often without justification or due process. For residents already facing systemic marginalization, this precariousness creates a cycle of instability, eroding the very foundation of their lives.
Recent efforts, such as a 40% funding increase for the Residential Tenancy Branch, offer some hope. However, these measures fail to address tenant exploitation’s systemic nature. True reform demands universal tenancy protections encompassing all housing forms, including supportive and transitional housing. Without these safeguards, security of tenure will remain a fragile promise for many British Columbians, perpetuating cycles of displacement and insecurity.
Lack of Basic Necessities
The availability of essential services is a defining pillar of adequate housing, yet this pillar is crumbling in British Columbia. Across the province, vulnerable residents face appalling gaps in basic infrastructure, from shared bathrooms in single-room occupancy (SRO) units that lack soap and toilet paper to encampments without access to clean water or sanitation. These failures deprive residents of dignity and exacerbate public health risks, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Supportive housing programs, while a step above encampments, are not immune to criticism. Many residents report restrictive rules, such as prohibiting guests, contributing to social isolation. This isolation, in turn, has been linked to increased mental health challenges and higher overdose risks, particularly in communities already devastated by the toxic drug crisis. Instead of fostering stability, these policies often leave tenants feeling surveilled and disempowered.
Efforts like the installation of emergency facilities at now-defunct CRAB Park showed the potential for a human-rights-based approach to housing, but such initiatives are piecemeal and lack the systemic backing needed for meaningful change. A coordinated response from municipal and provincial governments is crucial to ensuring that basic services are not treated as optional amenities but as inalienable rights integral to housing adequacy.
The Crisis of Housing as a Commodity
British Columbia’s affordability crisis is a harsh reminder of the dangers of treating housing as a commodity rather than a human right. Over the past decade, speculative investments and corporate landlord practices have driven rents to untenable levels, displacing tenants and deepening inequity. Renovictions and aggressive rent hikes are now commonplace, with some tenants seeing their rents increase by hundreds of dollars after being forced out.
Even subsidized housing programs, designed as a safety net, have not been immune to these pressures. Between 2019 and 2020, 354 evictions were reported in supportive housing programs alone, leaving many residents without recourse. For those on fixed incomes or disability assistance, the gap between rising rents and stagnant income levels creates impossible choices between paying for shelter or basic necessities. Food banks across the province are seeing unprecedented demand, further underscoring the intersection of housing costs and broader social inequities.
Addressing affordability requires more than rent caps and subsidies. Policymakers must confront the financialization of housing head-on, regulating speculative practices and investing in non-market solutions like co-operative housing. Without bold, systemic interventions, the promise of affordability will remain elusive, further widening the gap between those with stable housing and those for whom it is a distant dream.
Unsafe Conditions and Oversight
For many residents in British Columbia, particularly those in SROs and supportive housing, habitability is far from guaranteed. Reports of crumbling infrastructure—ranging from broken elevators to pervasive mold—paint a bleak picture of life in these aging buildings. Poor ventilation, faulty heating, and pest infestations are not just inconveniences; they are health hazards that disproportionately affect low-income residents.
Safety concerns compound these issues. Violence, theft, and exploitation are rampant in some supportive housing complexes, with insufficient security measures leaving residents vulnerable. Women and marginalized groups are particularly at risk, as these facilities often lack the resources and policies to ensure their safety. Instead of serving as sanctuaries, these environments frequently mirror the instability residents are trying to escape.
Indigenous communities are among those most acutely affected. Overcrowded and substandard housing is a persistent issue tied to systemic neglect rooted in colonial legacies. Addressing habitability requires more than superficial fixes—it demands robust oversight mechanisms, clear accountability for landlords and operators, and sustained investment in upgrading facilities. Housing must be more than a roof over one’s head; it must provide safety, dignity, and stability for all.
Bridging the Gaps in Inclusive Housing
Accessibility is a fundamental requirement of adequate housing, yet it remains a glaring shortfall in British Columbia’s housing landscape. For individuals with disabilities, the physical barriers in many buildings—such as the absence of elevators, ramps, and wheelchair-accessible units—turn what should be a refuge into a source of frustration and exclusion. In some cases, residents must navigate treacherous staircases or rely on inaccessible public spaces, compounding their daily struggles and diminishing their quality of life.
The challenges extend beyond physical barriers. Language barriers are persistent, particularly for non-English speakers navigating complex systems like eviction hearings or housing applications. Without adequate interpretation services or culturally sensitive support, many tenants find themselves unable to advocate for their rights or understand their legal protections. Indigenous tenants face an added layer of marginalization, with a lack of culturally appropriate housing that acknowledges their unique histories and needs.
Addressing accessibility requires bold action and systemic change. Policymakers must prioritize universal design principles in all public housing projects, ensuring that accessibility is integrated from the outset rather than as an afterthought. Equally critical is the expansion of culturally sensitive housing initiatives that cater to the diverse needs of marginalized communities. Accessibility is not just about removing physical barriers but about creating inclusive environments where every resident can live with dignity and agency.
The Geography of Displacement and Exclusion
The location of housing is as critical as its affordability or habitability, yet for many low-income British Columbians, displacement to peripheral areas is becoming the norm. As urban centres prioritize market-driven developments, low-income tenants are increasingly pushed to the margins, where access to healthcare, education, employment, and public transportation is often limited. This geographical isolation deepens inequality, leaving displaced residents disconnected from the very resources they need to achieve stability.
Encampments like CRAB Park in Vancouver epitomize the human toll of poor urban planning. Residents here face daily struggles to access clean water, sanitation, and healthcare while enduring stigmatization and the constant threat of displacement. These informal settlements are a reminder of systemic neglect and the failure to provide adequate housing options in central, resource-rich areas.
Addressing the location crisis requires a holistic approach to urban planning that prioritizes equity and accessibility. Mixed-use developments, transit-oriented affordable housing, and community-driven planning processes can help bridge the gap between housing and essential services. Policymakers must also tackle the systemic inequities in suburban and rural areas, ensuring that all regions are equipped with the infrastructure needed to support displaced populations. Housing must provide shelter and connect individuals to the opportunities and resources necessary for a stable and dignified life.
Toward a Rights-Based Housing Framework
British Columbia’s housing crisis is not just a policy failure—it is a crisis of human rights that demands urgent, systemic change. Across every dimension of adequate housing—security, affordability, habitability, accessibility, and location—the province has fallen short, leaving vulnerable populations to bear the brunt of these failures. For many, the promise of housing as a human right remains out of reach, overshadowed by inequities and systemic neglect.
The province must adopt a rights-based housing framework that prioritizes equity, dignity, and long-term stability to move forward. Strengthening tenant protections, including closing legal loopholes and ensuring universal application of the Residential Tenancy Act, is essential. At the same time, investment in non-market housing models—such as co-operatives and community-owned developments—must take precedence over speculative, profit-driven approaches.
Equally critical is embedding equity into housing policy design. This means addressing the unique challenges faced by Indigenous communities, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups through culturally sensitive and accessible housing solutions. The housing crisis in British Columbia cannot be solved with incremental changes or reactive measures; it requires decisive, coordinated action that reimagines housing not as a commodity but as a cornerstone of human rights.
Denise is a long-time advocate for affordable and dignified housing in the Downtown Eastside. Having lived in SROs and volunteered in homeless shelters, she brings a personal understanding of the housing crisis and its impact on the community. Her work reflects years of lived experience, frontline work, and commitment to creating better living conditions for DTES residents.
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