What’s Happening?

Press Release / Mar. 20, 2018

Housing First Initiatives

Vancouver is in a housing crisis and over 2,000 people across the city of Vancouver are experiencing homelessness. Men, women, seniors and youth are suffering both physically and mentally. Providing the right supply of housing, with the right supports for people experiencing homelessness continues to be a top priority for the City of Vancouver.

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VAHA in the News / Mar. 14, 2018

9 years after Little Mountain social housing demolished, modular housing to rise on nearly empty site

It was 2009 when the bulldozers rolled in and demolished 224 units of 1950’s era low-income housing at Vancouver’s Little Mountain site.

Critics at the time accused the province of acting without a plan for redevelopment; nine years later, just one building with 54 units for seniors has been built on the acres of prime real estate next to Queen Elizabeth Park.

Now, the nearly vacant site has been selected as the home of the City of Vancouver’s latest temporary modular housing project for the homeless.

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Research / Jul. 16, 2017

The Vienna Model: Innovation in Affordable Housing

Vancouver often ranks alongside the Austrian capital of Vienna in top 10 lists of the world’s most liveable cities. Vienna’s European charm, rich arts and culture scene, low crime rates and excellent public transit all contribute to its appeal. With approximately 60% of Vienna’s population in municipal housing, the city seemingly solved the issue of housing affordability before it began. Conversely, with vacancy rates of less than 1%, Vancouver is deep in the grips of an affordable housing crisis. To solve the issue of affordable housing, can Vancouver look to Vienna’s municipal housing history for new paths forward?

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Press Release / Feb. 16, 2017

220 Terminal Avenue, Vancouver’s First Temporary Modular Housing

The Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency (VAHA) is a legally independent agent of the City of Vancouver mandated to deliver new, below-market rental housing on city-owned land through funding from public, private and community partners. In 2016, VAHA announced it was taking the next steps on a new solution for providing temporary housing for low-income residents. 

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