Advocacy Issues

Urge party leaders to adopt a position supportive of vacancy control and develop a bolder plan to ensure tenants aren’t evicted in bad faith.

BC tops two undesirable lists: the eviction capital of Canada and the most unaffordable housing in Canada. Rent is out of control, but it doesn’t have to be. FIRST UNITED is a provincial leader in housing justice. Through our extensive research and expertise we have developed a comprehensive law reform platform that protects tenants, reduces community displacement, and prevents homelessness. Earlier in 2024, the provincial government adopted several of FIRST UNITED’s recommendations. However, one recommendation that has not yet been accepted is vacancy control. Vacancy control has the potential to make the greatest impact for the most people in BC.

Vacancy control is when the allowable annual rent increases apply to the rental unit, regardless of a change of landlord or tenant. Right now, landlords are strongly incentivized to evade rent control by forcing tenant turnover through bad-faith evictions. Through evictions, landlords can increase rent by unlimited amounts. We see this happen across the province. Seniors, people of colour, LGBTQ2S+, and low-income people are at highest risk of homelessness and displacement through these bad-faith evictions, but people of all walks of life and incomes are negatively impacted.

Vacancy control will disincentivize that. It will stabilize rents and prevent people from all walks of life from becoming homeless. This is what’s needed.

Send a letter to provincial party leaders to let them know that you will vote for a party that demonstrates commitment to safe and affordable homes for everyone. The letter will be addressed to:

1. Premier David Eby, BC NDP
2. John Rustad, Conservative Party of BC
3. Sonia Furstenau, Green Party of BC

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This letter writing campaign is now closed. As of October 29, 2024, a total of 99 letters were sent to Premier David Eby (BC NDP), John Rustad (Conservative Party of BC), and Sonia Furstenau (Green Party of Canada). Below are the contents of the original letter:

Dear Party Leader,

BC is the eviction capital and the least affordable province for housing in Canada. Housing affordability is out of control and we need clear and bold action now.

I believe in housing policy that allows for everyone to have access to a safe and affordable home. I will vote for a party that demonstrates that commitment in the upcoming election.

That’s why I’m calling on your party to adopt a position supportive of vacancy control and develop a bolder plan to ensure tenants aren’t evicted in bad faith.

Right now, landlords are strongly incentivized to evade rent control by forcing tenant turnover through bad-faith evictions. Through evictions, landlords can increase rent by unlimited amounts. We see this happen across the province. Seniors, people of colour, LGBTQ2S+, and low-income people are at highest risk of homelessness and displacement through these bad-faith evictions, but people of all walks of life and incomes are negatively impacted.

Vacancy control will disincentivize that. It will stabilize rents and prevent people from all walks of life from becoming homeless. This is what’s needed.

People across the province and income spectrum are struggling to pay rent. We need immediate action now.

Sincerely,
[Name]

From the Social Justice Committee of FIRST UNITED

Provincial election campaigns have kicked off and we’re concerned about a policy that’s being proposed by more than one political party: involuntary treatment for people with “severe addictions” and/or mental health challenges or brain injuries.

FIRST UNITED has been serving the DTES community, including those who have mental health challenges, brain injuries, and people who use drugs, for over a century. As an organization with deep relationships and ties in the community, and as those who have seen firsthand the outcomes of failed policies like this, we vehemently object.

Involuntary treatment denies people of their basic human rights and bodily autonomy. It cages people who use drugs as prisoners without having committed crimes. It is also proven to increase overdose deaths. There is not enough evidence to show that involuntary treatment works well, but there is enough evidence to show that it can cause more harm.¹

Parties in favour of involuntary treatment couch mental health challenges within the primary context of addiction—signaling that this is in fact an attack on people who use drugs, and a desire for expanded use of the Mental Health Act. This type of government apprehension and confinement is akin to jailing innocent people. It robs people of their liberty and dignity. It is also a threat of renewed oppression and violence against Indigenous people.

First Nations people are overrepresented in toxic drug poisoning deaths in BC; in 2023 First Nations people in BC died at 6.1 times the rate of other British Columbians.² Being forced into involuntary treatment carries with it an association to Canada’s dark legacy of forced “medical treatment” of Indigenous people. Coupled with the increase of overdose risk after being held in involuntary treatment, this presents a significant and increased risk for Indigenous people.³

We believe this is at odds with Article 29 of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples⁴ (which, the BC government has adopted as its framework for reconciliation in 2019⁵), which declares “States shall also take effective measures to ensure, as needed, that programmes for monitoring, maintaining and restoring the health of indigenous peoples, as developed and implemented by the peoples affected by such materials, are duly implemented.”

We call on all political parties and leaders to revert their positions and instead take an evidence-based approach to the toxic drug crisis that will actually make a positive difference in the lives of British Columbians:

1. Establish policy positions supportive of safe supply; when elected implement a plan for a safe and regulated supply of drugs.
2. Double the number of community-based services that support people struggling with mental health and substance use challenges.
3. Immediately fund voluntary detox and treatment beds throughout the province, in every community; ensure that people can access treatment as soon as they want to, in their community.
4. Establish trauma-informed, culturally-safe and culturally-informed health and healing services, including detox and treatment facilities, for Indigenous people that are in line with Calls to Action 21 and 22 in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action report.⁶

We are disturbed by these proposed policies and invite British Columbians to join us in voicing their concerns, and protecting the rights and dignity of all in our province.

Sources

¹ https://www.mcmasterforum.org/docs/default-source/product-documents/rapid-responses/use-and-regulation-of-involuntary-substance-use-treatment-for-adults.pdf?sfvrsn=3dec6bb1_3
² https://www.fnha.ca/Documents/FNHA-First-Nations-and-the-Toxic-Drug-Poisoning-Crisis-in-BC-Jan-Dec-2023.pdf
³ https://digitallibrary.cma.ca/viewer?file=%2Fmedia%2FDigital_Library_PDF%2F2024%2520CMA%27s%2520apology%2520to%2520Indigenous%2520Peoples%2520EN.pdf#page=1
⁴ https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf
⁵ https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/indigenous-people/new-relationship/united-nations-declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples
⁶ https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/indigenous-people/aboriginal-peoples-documents/calls_to_action_english2.pdf

On October 19, 2024, British Columbians will head to the polls for the upcoming provincial election. British Columbians are facing a multitude of issues, some of which we see exacerbated amongst the community FIRST serves in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. We need government action now, and together we have an excellent opportunity to organize and leverage collective action. Ahead of election day, we invite you to join us in advocacy action on two key issues: vacancy control and safe supply. By focusing on these issues, we can collectively prevent people from becoming homeless, and prevent people from dying from overdoses caused by a tainted supply of drugs.

Our Invitation

We are organizing an advocacy campaign directed at each of the four primary BC political party leaders (Premier David Eby, BC NDP; John Rustad, Conservative Party of BC; Sonia Furstenau, Green Party of BC), encouraging them to act on housing and drug policy.

Collective action has the power to influence political change. We invite you to sign our online pledge forms:

BC Needs Vacancy Control
BC Needs Safe Supply

About the Issues:

Housing Policy: Vacancy Control
BC tops two undesirable lists: the eviction capital of Canada and the most unaffordable housing in Canada. Rent is out of control, but it doesn’t have to be. FIRST UNITED is a provincial leader in housing justice. Through our extensive research and expertise we have developed a comprehensive law reform platform that protects tenants, reduces community displacement, and prevents homelessness. Earlier in 2024, the provincial government adopted several of FIRST UNITED’s recommendations. However, one recommendation that has not yet been accepted is vacancy control. Vacancy control has the potential to make the greatest impact for the most people in BC.

Vacancy control is when the allowable annual rent increases apply to the rental unit, regardless of a change of landlord or tenant. Right now, landlords are strongly incentivized to evade rent control by forcing tenant turnover through bad-faith evictions. Through evictions, landlords can increase rent by unlimited amounts. We see this happen across the province. Seniors, people of colour, LGBTQ2S+, and low-income people are at highest risk of homelessness and displacement through these bad-faith evictions, but people of all walks of life and incomes are negatively impacted.

Vacancy control will disincentivize that. It will stabilize rents and prevent people from all walks of life from becoming homeless. This is what’s needed.

Drug Policy: Safe Supply
Since 2016, over 14,000 people in British Columbia have died from toxic drug poisoning. They are friends and family members, students and parents, lawyers and construction workers, those with stable and high-paying jobs and people experiencing homelessness. The overdose crisis is not limited to the Downtown Eastside—although 2-3 people in this small community die from overdose daily—it is not limited to those experiencing addiction. The overdose crisis is at high risk of worsening if action is not taken now.

The reason so many are dying from overdose is because the supply of drugs is unregulated and tainted. The issue is further compounded by a lack of resources and harmful policies: there are not enough safe consumption sites, recriminalization puts people at heightened risk, and immediate access to detox and treatment are not currently available.

However, the bottom line is that deaths occur because people do not have access to a safe and regulated supply of drugs.

Disinformation and fear mongering have taken over the public narrative and have dire consequences. Safe supply is an evidence-based approach that will allow people to survive, stabilize their lives, and be alive until they can or want to access treatment. Safe supply is the courageous policy needed to end the overdose crisis.

Digital Assets

Feel free to use and share these assets widely, and tag us at @FirstUnitedDTES on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter).

Facebook Frames
Download customized Facebook frames to add to your Facebook profile photo.

Instructions:

1. Go to https://www.twibbonize.com/u/firstuniteddtes.
2. Click on the #VacancyControlforBC or #SafeSupplyforBC campaign.
3. Close any pop-up ads
4. Click “Choose Photo” button.
5. Select the photo you want to use for your Facebook photo.
6. Click the “Download” button.
7. Click “Download” button again.
8. Upload as your Facebook profile photo.

Social Media Graphics
Vacancy Control:

Safe Supply:

Authorized by First United Church Community Ministry Society, registered sponsor under the Election Act, 604-335-9334.