To John Horgan BC Provincial Government, David Eby Ministry of Housing and the BC Union of Municipalities,

Call A State of Emergency Now! Our Residents Are Drowning in a Housing Emergency and Are Facing Homelessness. We all have the right to affordable housing. We all have the right to a roof.

During this housing crisis, families and individuals in the Capital Regional District (CRD) are avoiding homelessness, finding safe and affordable housing in tiny homes and RV’s on private land. This safe and affordable housing solution is currently illegal in every municipality of the CRD. So long as no one reports them, they will be safe. Some are speaking out while others are remaining quiet out of fear of homelessness. Many have already been reported. If action is not taken dozens of families and individuals will be evicted from their housing by the end of the summer.

Tiny Houses and RV living are one immediate, viable solution to this housing crisis issue we are facing. Instead of forcing families to leave their homes, the government should be supporting land owners to ensure safety and sanitation. Until they have these standards in place, we demand a moratorium on removing people from their homes and on fining property owners who allow tiny home residents a safe place to live.

This Housing Crisis we have been facing for years has now become a Housing Emergency. We need this state of emergency called immediately.   

...because families and working class individuals could be on the street because of outdated bylaws and enforcement;

...because the workers in BC are unable to find affordable housing we and because we are therefore seeing a drastic reduction in essential services i.e. doctors, nurses, and other medical staff are leaving the Province, flights and ferries are being cancelled due to staffing shortages;

...because an estimated 1,500 people are experiencing homelessness in BC alone;

...because the average house price in BC is $1.2 million according to https://www.cheknews.ca/greater-victoria-home-pre-new-record-1-2-million-740643/

...because the vacancy rates in BC are at 1%;

We demand that Municipal, Provincial, and Federal governments declare a state of emergency in British Columbia

In this state of emergency, we demand that the following be implemented:

- a immediate moratorium on fining people for living in tents, RVs, or tiny homes, or landowners hosting these individuals and any other non-conforming homing until more affordable housing is available;

- vacancy control to keep rent from increasing until wages can catch up;

- focus on supporting landowners to have healthy septic, wastewater systems and health concerns rather than enforcing outdated and inhumane laws;

- allowing land owners of properties of a certain size to host tiny homes and RVs to prevent homelessness; 

- new zoning allowances for community living and intentional communities focused on agricultural endeavours;

- increase protection from evictions and increased strata fees for people who are living in mobile home parks;

- a clear inspection path for tiny homes and RVs to become legal dwellings so that the many people living in such conditions can continue to do so without fear;

While this state of emergency is active we demand that long term action be taken bring the housing crisis under control:

- build more publicly owned subsidized housing and co-op housing

- work with nonprofits to build subsidized, housing and co-housing

- confiscate properties purchased by money laundering operations

- wages, disability and pension tied to inflation

Thank you! 

Your fellow tax payers and working class