Dear Editor:
I want to thank ACORN Burnaby for their continued advocacy on the issue of renters'rights and more generally on affordable housing. As Burnaby Council has now learned firsthand, housing in the region and in Burnaby specifically is becoming unaffordable for most people, especially new, young families who are hoping to put down roots in our community. ACORN has been a devoted champion for ensuring that the supply of subsidized, low-cost and social housing is maintained, and advocates continually to have the stock increased over time.
The new Kings Crossing development is a vital opportunity for Burnaby city council to begin to slow down the increasing costs of housing in our city. I hope that the city, the developer and outside interest groups are able to come together to ensure that some of the housing units being created in these towers will be used to enhance the stock of lower cost rental housing in the city.
We’ve seen before that when council advocates for it, private developers will create subsidized housing, or other forms of housing that are below market value, such as with the George Derby housing complex. This strategy needs to be continued as often as possible and should apply to all incoming developments as part of the four town centres citywide development concept.
It’s clear that we need more affordable housing, let’s hope that our elected officials keep the pressure on to do what they can to provide that housing stock.
Trevor Ritchie, Burnaby
