Stop me if you’ve heard this one: A developer, a housing activist and a mayor walk into a conference room…
No, this isn’t the start of a bad joke. It’s the premise of Burnaby’s housing task force, which began meeting in February, tasked with finding solutions to the city’s housing woes. Those three individuals were joined by 15 others, representing the city’s renters, builders, workers, non-profit housing sector and more.
But here’s the punchline: They emerged five months later with a final report supported by all members.
In the midst of a superheated conversation around housing affordability, 18 people with disparate views, motives and backgrounds agreed on a suite of recommendations that could radically reshape the city in the years to come.
That’s why the Mayor’s Task Force on Community Housing is the Burnaby Newsmaker of the Year for 2019.
Some members of the task force have admitted conversations became heated and emotional behind closed doors. That’s no surprise considering low-income renters and their advocates were sitting at the same table as some of the powerful developers whose projects displaced thousands of people.
What is surprising is how those two sides came to agree on a new tenant assistance program that guarantees renters displaced by development the right to remain in their community while paying the same rent. Suddenly, some of the city’s most vulnerable residents can breathe much easier – and they have the task force’s motley crew to thank for it.
The city has already followed another key task force recommendation by striking a deal with BC Housing to potentially build hundreds of new non-market housing units on six city-owned properties.
The task force’s true impact won’t be known for years to come. Only time will tell whether city council has the courage to fully implement the bold vision laid out by the task force members.
But the task force has given us hope for a better future – one where everyone can belong in Burnaby with safe, affordable and comfortable homes and one where we can find common ground and a shared future despite our differences.
