Over a span of just five years, five affordable housing properties in Vancouver classified as Single Room Occupancy (SRO) generated a staggering 30,904 calls for policing services. These properties, often used by the most vulnerable in society, reflect a system that is broken and unsustainable—both for those living in these unhealthy environments and for the public resources being spent to manage their fallout.
The Hidden Costs of SROs
Each time an emergency response is dispatched—whether it’s for policing, fire services, or paramedics—it comes with a cost. Policing services in Vancouver are estimated to cost between $500 and $1,000 per call, depending on the complexity of the case. This means that for just five buildings over five years, policing alone likely cost between $15 million and $30 million. Add to that the cost of fire services and ambulance interventions, and the total figure becomes even more staggering.
But what are we really paying for? Not for long-term solutions, but for reactive measures that do little to address the root causes of these emergencies—mental health crises, substance abuse, and unsafe living conditions in dilapidated housing.
Reallocating Funds for Real Change
Instead of spending millions of dollars on reactive emergency services, what if we redirected those funds toward proactive housing solutions? Consider this: Vancouver has thousands of vacant condos, and the cost to house someone in a tiny home or modular housing is a fraction of what is spent on policing these SROs.
Rather than funneling money into managing the symptoms of poverty, we could use these funds to build healthy, sustainable housing environments. Modular homes or temporary housing in vacant condos would not only provide immediate relief for those suffering in SROs but also reduce the need for constant emergency interventions.
The Problem with Non-Profits
Non-profits like S.U.C.C.E.S.S, which claim to provide affordable housing, often make the qualification process so difficult that it feels inaccessible for many of the people who need it most. These organizations sometimes focus more on their operational requirements or securing funding than actually addressing the housing crisis equitably. This is why some affordable housing units remain empty or underutilized, while homelessness and housing insecurity continue to rise.
Who Really Benefits from SROs?
Another issue is the for-profit model that some landlords use to exploit vulnerable tenants. Many SRO owners perform only minor cosmetic upgrades to their properties, just enough to raise rents significantly without providing real improvements. This disinvestment in affordable housing forces residents to live in deplorable conditions while profits rise for the property owners.
We must move away from this model of housing, where people are treated as profit centers rather than human beings deserving of dignity and safety. By doing so, we can disrupt the cycle of poverty and provide real hope for the future.
A Call for Action: A Better Way Forward
The solution lies in diverting resources away from emergency responses and policing toward constructive, long-term housing solutions. This could include:
Temporary use of vacant condos: Until permanent housing can be built, people should not be forced to live in squalor.
Building tiny homes or modular housing: These are affordable, sustainable solutions that have already proven successful in other cities.
Enforcing rent controls and preventing speculation: Rent hikes for minor improvements shouldn't displace those in need. More stringent regulations are needed to protect vulnerable renters from exploitation.
By reallocating funds and rethinking how we address housing, we can save money in the long run and, more importantly, provide dignified living conditions for everyone.
It’s time to take action, not just by managing crises but by preventing them through smart investment in affordable housing.
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