Tell City of Vancouver their Chinatown seniors housing strategy is *not* good enough by this Thurs
The City wants your opinion on their seniors housing strategy by Thurs, May 16
The City of Vancouver is looking for your input on their first seniors housing strategy through their 2 min survey due Thurs, May 16.
You can read the key directions here and full plan here.
Their plan a start, but admittedly, it’s pretty weak for Chinatown and DTES where there’s a disproportionate number of low-income seniors.
For example, despite quoting the community-led Vancouver Chinatown Affordable Seniors Housing Inventory report from 2023, the City of Vancouver’s senior housing strategy only mentions:
Work with community leaders to advance a project serving Chinese and Indigenous seniors housing needs in Chinatown, in partnership with BC Housing and Vancouver Coastal Health.
One project? That’s it?
That is not good enough when:
There are 7,200 seniors in Chinatown and surrounding areas, but only 4% of the affordable housing stock that provide culturally-appropriate care;
Seniors are waiting up to 2 years to access culturally-appropriate housing in Chinatown, and
There’s a real threat of eviction and displacement due to land sales and redevelopment, i.e. 70 seniors were almost evicted from a Chinatown care home just a few years ago before community and media stopped it.
What the community actually needs is the following:
The City of Vancouver to work with community to develop a comprehensive funded seniors housing strategy for Chinatown and DTES.
The City of Vancouver and the Province to proactively secure land and buildings in Chinatown and DTES for seniors housing ASAP, such as 301 East Hastings and 105 Keefer.
The City of Vancouver and the Province to work with community and housing agencies to providing funding and resources to renew old seniors SRO (single room occupancy) housing stock with necessary live-saving improvements like central air conditioning so that 500 seniors don’t die from heat dome in unventilated suites.
Take the City of Vancouver’s 2-minute survey by Thurs, May 16 to let them know that they need to do better when it comes to seniors housing in Chinatown:
Support Yarrow’s Chinatown Seniors on Jun 8
Our friends at Yarrow is hosting a mini craft fundraiser on June 8 where proceeds from the event will go to Yarrow’s important services for Chinatown’s seniors.
Discover the tradition of creating five-colour string bracelets in celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival! Join Yarrow for a meaningful event where you can craft bracelets and learn about their cultural significance.
At this event, you will:
Create your own five-colour string bracelets.
Learn about the cultural and historical significance of the Dragon Boat Festival, including its origins and traditional customs such as eating zongzi (a glutinous rice dish wrapped in bamboo leaves) and wearing perfume pouches.
Discover the stories and legends behind the Dragon Boat Festival, including the tale of the revered poet and politician Qu Yuan, whose life and death inspired this annual celebration.
Plus, all your donations to the event will go to Yarrow’s important services for community seniors!