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United Nations Human Rights Complaint (Apr 08)
Citywide Housing coalition endorsed this launch of a formal human rights complaint against the Canadian government over ongoing SRO housing conversions in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood in the lead up to the 2010 Winter Olympics
Poverty Olympics (Feb 08)
What do Itchy the Bedbug, Creepy the Cockroach and Chewy the Rat have in common with the 2010 Olympics? They are the mascots of the first annual Poverty Olympics. The Citywide Housing Coalition shares the hope that international horror at the poverty situation in Vancouver will spur our governments to use their massive surpluses to end poverty and homelessness.
Stands for Housing (Feb 08 onward)
Turquoise blue banners and scarves are becoming recognized as a reminder to governments that a comprehensive housing program is urgently needed to address the growing housing and homelessness crisis. Citywide Housing Coalition supported the initiative started by Concerned Advocates for Little Mountain (CALM) contributed and expanded it to be citywide.
Eco-density (Feb 08)
Citywide Housing Coalition does not support the City’s Eco-density plan and instead spoke in favour of land use mechanisms that will guarantee affordability and land for social housing across the city.
Opera Condemned (Feb 08)
This Downtown Eastside opera about the shocking evictions at the Pender Hotel was produced by Citywide Housing Coalition in Kitsilano and was followed with a forum discussion.
SRA Conversion and Demolition Bi-law and the Standards of Maintenance Reports (Dec 07)
Approximately 6000 residential hotel rooms in Vancouver represent the last housing before homelessness and must be protected. Citywide Housing Coalition spoke in favour of strengthening these bylaws. Continued loss of hotel rooms show that these bylaws continue to be weak (link to report: disappearing homes).
Supportive Housing Strategy (Dec 07)
Citywide Housing Coalition speaks out at City Council in favour of the 12 city owned sites to be readied for Provincial investment in new supportive housing. Nimby’s who don’t want supportive housing in their neighbourhoods lose, we win. A thank you to all council members for this one.
Treasure Hunt for Housing Fund (Oct 07)
Vancouver pirates search for Housing treasure in Victoria. Pirates of the Downtown Eastside, Citywide Housing Coalition, and Victoria's anti-poverty community joined together to discover and release a $250 million treasure for social housing.
Rally for Streams of Justice Tent Squat (Oct 07)
Streams of Justice occupied an empty city owned lot designated for social housing but stalled. United Nations Special Reporter on Adequate Housing visits and Citywide Housing Coalition hosts rally.
Hearing with United Nations Special Reporter on Housing (Oct 07)
Citywide Housing Coalition members speak passionately about the need for housing in our city. Miloon Kothari, United Nations, carries our message back and writes a report to support our claims.
Free the Fish Homes For People (Sept 07)
A small colourful army of captive fish, along with a crowd of outraged Vancouver citizens, protested the impending $90 million Aquarium expansion. Protesters demanded government spending be re-directed to address Vancouver's homelessness and housing crisis, instead of planned luxury homes for captive marine life.
Pied Piper March for Housing to UBCM (Sept 07)
"Last year the Union of BC Municipalities focused on housing, but this year, even though we have more homeless people, housing will be almost ignored at their annual convention," said one march organizer, Wendy Pedersen. "We want BC cities and towns to push the province to keep its Olympic promises." The march will end in a rally at the Trade and Convention Centre with speakers, a Shoshonee Elder, the Solidarity Notes choir, singers and drummers.
Festival Outreach (Summer 07)
The Citywide Housing Coalition had tables at the Folk Fest, the Pride Parade, the Powell Street Festival, Car Free day and more.
Rally at Little Mountain (Jul 07)
50 tenants were displaced from Little Mountain Social housing project. BC Housing has vague plans to sell the land to developers and renovate for condos and social housing in 2010. More families are scheduled to move soon. "Hasn't anyone noticed there's a housing crisis?
Women's Housing March (June 07)
Citywide Housing Coalition endorsed and attended this amazing march organized by the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre Power of Women.
Rally for Olympic Housing Promises (June 07)
Citywide Housing Coalition turns out in force from around the city to endorse the 3 level's of government commitment to 3200 units of housing and better welfare rates for inner city residents to minimize the impact of the Olympics on their lives. Governments agree with the target but claim government funding is questionable.
Unitarian Dialogue (May 07)
"Where's Ottawa?" A newly formed Citywide Housing Coalition (CWHC) challenge Federal MP's, (those who were brave enough to attend) on Ottawa's role in the lack of affordable housing in Vancouver.
Atlanta Olympic Mayor Hid Homeless (May 07)
Vancouver should not follow the example of Atlanta Olympic officials when it comes to people who are homeless or at risk of losing their housing. That's the point that the Citywide Housing Coalition wants to make tomorrow at a Board of Trade breakfast meeting. The meeting has been called to hear from Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin who was the Chief Operating Officer of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Rate of Change Bylaw (May 07)Citywide Housing Coalition speaks in favour of this bylaw which calls for developers to replace every unit of rental housing demolished or converted in the City, except in the neighbourhood of the Downtown Eastside.
ICI Press Conference (Apr 07)
A group of 81 organizations, community representatives and housing experts have endorsed a months-old report created by VANOC that the Olympic organizers haven't even posted on their website. Now some of the endorsing and participating agencies are questioning the will of the government and VANOC to make these recommendations reality.
June 18th
We (CCAP, Streams of Justice and members of CHC + others) had come on June 13, with a giant card for Terry Hui, the head of Concord Pacific, which is building over 200 condos in the DTES. The card suggested that Hui withdraw his project or donate his proposed building at 58 W. Hastings to social housing and name it after Darrell Mikasko, a homeless man who burned to death trying to stay warm.
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