Thank you so much for signing and sharing this petition. When this petition started on May 16, it didn't seem possible for us to reach this point! But in recent weeks, advocates and experts have made huge headway and you've played a massive role in helping us to advocate for a sensible and compassionate stance on the issue of RVs and Tiny Homes as compassionate housing in the housing crisis. 

As reported in the media in the last week, the Regional District of Nanaimo Electoral Area Services Committee passed several promising motions that support a more compassionate stand on RVs as longterm housing in the housing crisis in RV Parks, Campgrounds, and Resorts. This will now be reviewed by the RDN Board of Directors in July. 

However, Regional District of Nanaimo staff remain consistently opposed to RVs and Tiny Homes as housing in residential zones, even though this is a housing shortage best practice that has been adopted to good effect in a number of regions of BC, including Valemount, Grand Forks, Naramata, Ucluelet, Vernon, and elsewhere in the housing crisis (including in San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, and Los Angeles County). Further, this stance is in contravention to the very real fact that people have been living in RVs and Tiny Homes in residential zones in the RDN for years. 

So we still have work ahead of us to educate local government officers on the lived realities of the housing crisis, and the role that RVs and Tiny Homes can play in providing safe, affordable, permanent housing across the region in this crisis. We will continue working to break the stigmas around this issue -- showing that with proper regulations and best practices (including a meaningful way for residents to hook up to  water, wastewater, and electrical services), legalizing these units for longterm dwelling in parks, campgrounds, resorts AND residential zones can ensure that some of the most vulnerable people in our communities have a home. 

If you live in the Regional District of Nanaimo and feel passionate about supporting the motions for compassionate dwelling in RVs in the region -- do consider a) writing a letter to the members of the board (templates and contact info here) and/or b) signing up to be a delegate for the upcoming meeting of the Regional Board of Directors  (you can submit an application here and ask to speak in support of the motions at the meeting where they will be discussed -- the date for when these motions will be considered has not been specified on their July calendar yet). 

And remember, when the RDN claims they are not enforcing against RVs/Tiny Homes and will not do so in the future, that's subject to interpretation: https://thediscourse.ca/nanaimo/regional-district-of-nanaimo-tiny-homes-and-rvs

Have a safe and lovely long weekend. 

- Oceanside Affordable Housing