Dear Everyone, 

Thank you so much for signing and sharing this petition. It's incredible to see it gaining support. 

Some hopeful news -- at its May 9 meeting, the Regional District of Nanaimo Electoral Services Committee passed a motion (put forward by Area F Regional Director Leanne Salter, and passed by almost the whole committee, with only Area E Regional Director Bob Rogers opposed) where it was "moved and seconded that the Board direct staff to prepare a report proposing options to address concerns with length of stay in a recreational vehicle."  

This comes in response to fierce public opposition to the draft bylaw language and clauses that would outright ban longterm RV living in the region (except for folks who are building a new home on their property). 

The RDN Staff will present this report on alternatives to the current draft bylaw language at the June 13 meeting of the Electoral Services Committee. 

As reported by Michael Briones in Nanaimo News Bulletin, during the meeting, "Coombs-Hilliers-Errington-Whiskey Creek director Leanne Salter said the RDN has received a lot of letters from people in the region raising concerns about losing their ability to live in their RV. She pointed to the affordable housing crisis and asked how this can be mitigated if people cannot reside in RVs for longer periods of time."

This is good news! Public concern about outright banning of full-time RV living is being heard by the RDN Electoral Services Committee. It's definitely worth it to keep writing in and voicing your support for a compassionate approach to longterm RV and Tiny Home living in the housing crisis. 

One crucial point: during the meeting, RDN staff said that the local government is not actively evicting folks from longterm RV living in the RDN, but that is not fully true. Bylaw complaints about longterm living in RVs are in fact being investigated and acted upon by Bylaw Enforcement. So it is important to keep pushing for a compassionate approach that does not put folks living in RVs at risk of homelessness during this unprecedented crisis. If you would like to write a letter expressing your support for longterm RV living in local RV Parks and in residential zones, there are templates and contact info at https://oceansideaffordablehousing.wordpress.com/letter-templates-for-local-government/

Gratitude for your support!

-- Oceanside Affordable Housing