Mayor Gregor Robertson says he was "surprised" to learn only 37 per cent of people living in buildings constructed to house homeless people were previously homeless before moving in to a suite.
Robertson said the city staff report that revealed the news was the first update he had seen as to who the tenants were in the four social housing buildings built on city-owned property.
"It's a real concern and certainly one I'll raise with [Housing Minister Rich Coleman] and ensure the taxpayer investment in those sites is respected by homeless people getting housed," Robertson told the Courier in an interview last Friday.
As the Courier first reported on our website Friday, the city staff report revealed that 144 of 388 people were homeless before being offered a place to live at 1005 Station St., 337 West Pender St., 525 Abbott St. and 1338 Seymour St.
The majority of tenants-167-were living in single-room occupancy hotels prior to their moves. Another 47 were in hospital, jail or treatment facility and 29 came from a long-term care facility or other housing.
"At this point, the best data available indicates that for every three units built so far, just over one unit houses a person documented to have been homeless prior to moving in," said the report authored by Brenda Prosken, the city's deputy general manager of community services.
The buildings in question were built on four of the 14 city-owned properties that staff and politicians have referred to many times as facilities that would help end homelessness in Vancouver.
The provincial government agreed to pay more than $300 million for construction of the buildings along with $20 million from the privately run Streetohome Foundation. Council specifically approved the contribution of land-valued at $120 million-on the sites to ensure that "local homeless were able to have their needs met in their communities," Prosken wrote.
NPA Coun. Suzanne Anton, who is challenging Robertson for mayor in next month's civic election, issued a news release over the weekend asking how so few homeless people got first dibs on the buildings.
"The report shows that, despite all the spin, Gregor Robertson's signature campaign promise is a sham," said Anton, referring to Robertson's top campaign priority in 2008 to get people off the streets and into housing.
Robertson pointed out B.C. Housing, which is the housing arm of the provincial government, and its chosen non-profit building managers decide which tenants move in to the buildings.
"We've had a good strong partnership in getting these buildings underway and creating shelters to transition people off the street and it's a real red flag now if we're actually not seeing the results that we've all expected," the mayor said. "We'll have to weigh in more directly in the process."
When all 14 buildings are built, they will provide 1,575 new units of housing, along with access to medical, health and counseling services. The 2011 Metro Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Homeless Count recorded 1,605 homeless people in the city.
Prosken noted the assumption the 1,575 units would be occupied by homeless people is embedded in the city's 2012 Housing and Homeless Strategy and is "an assumption on which both the city's and the Streetohome Foundation's 'housing gap' for the homeless has been calculated."
City staff, B.C. Housing and the Streetohome Foundation established an "oversight committee" to ensure placement of tenants was in accordance with a memorandum of agreement signed by the province and the city related to the 14 sites.
The agreement stated the buildings would "accommodate the homeless and those at risk of homelessness who are living on Vancouver's streets, in its shelters and in the city's [single-room occupancy hotels]." The agreement describes the people as frequently suffering from mental illness, substance abuse issues and in most need of safe, secure affordable housing with support services.
"While it is acknowledged that the tenant mix in the new social/supportive housing must be balanced so it is manageable and sustainable, the focus of the city's efforts through the committee has been to ensure as many of Vancouver's homeless get housed in the 14 sites and have access to supports," Prosken wrote.
The provincial government's housing ministry emailed a statement to the Courier in response to queries as to why a small percentage of homeless people had moved in to the four buildings.
The government did not comment on the city's focus to have homeless people get priority over others when a building is ready to be occupied. Instead, the government referred to the agreement with the city which recognized the tenant mix "must be balanced based on behaviours and needs so that the housing service providers can manage the community within the building successfully."
Twitter: @Howellings
