The term “social housing” could have many definitions. In Vancouver, some may be surprised to learn, the city’s definition of social housing includes a studio apartment renting for $1,700 a month.
But beyond the tweet, and deep into the 197-page housing data book recently released by the city, a more complicated picture emerges. B.C. Housing’s moderate income limits mean that to qualify for a two-bedroom apartment, you could earn as much as $107,000, explained Garrison. That means an “affordable” rent would be $2,675 a month. The upper income limit for a “social housing” studio apartment is $71,000, Garrison said, meaning rent could be $1,700 a month.
Those homes could go to a single parent working full-time as a teacher, for example. Or a full-time nurse and a part-time office worker who live together. Every politician says they want to see these kinds of moderate income earners find secure, affordable housing relatively near their workplace. No city can run without people working these kinds of jobs, but they don’t earn extremely high incomes.
Asked if he understands concerns that the city is padding the stats to make the social housing numbers look better than they are, Garrison replied: “I definitely understand where that criticism comes from … I don’t disagree with it.”