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Vancouver's social housing initiative

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Making Vancouver more inclusive and equitable is a key priority of Vancouver Plan, the city’s long-term land-use strategy. Vancouver’s Social Housing Initiative works toward the critical need for affordable housing by simplifying and changing zoning regulations to allow for mixed-income social, supportive, and co-operative housing to be built without a rezoning in all Vancouver neighbourhoods.

Taking direction from Vancouver Plan’s approved land use vision, this initiative would permit non-profit and government organizations to build social housing buildings from 6 to 18 storeys, depending on neighbourhood type, with a focus on areas close to transit and commercial centres. New buildings will have the opportunity to include local serving retail and childcare alongside social housing.

These proposed changes would allow social housing projects to be built faster with less cost, giving priority to providing homes for people who need them most and working toward maintaining diversity in the city.

Learn more:

Next steps:

The first phase of public engagement has now concluded. It was open between September 18 and October 22, 2024. We are now compiling feedback and making policy revisions before providing a public update in Q1 2025, and bringing the proposal to City Council for a decision in late Q2 2025.


Making Vancouver more inclusive and equitable is a key priority of Vancouver Plan, the city’s long-term land-use strategy. Vancouver’s Social Housing Initiative works toward the critical need for affordable housing by simplifying and changing zoning regulations to allow for mixed-income social, supportive, and co-operative housing to be built without a rezoning in all Vancouver neighbourhoods.

Taking direction from Vancouver Plan’s approved land use vision, this initiative would permit non-profit and government organizations to build social housing buildings from 6 to 18 storeys, depending on neighbourhood type, with a focus on areas close to transit and commercial centres. New buildings will have the opportunity to include local serving retail and childcare alongside social housing.

These proposed changes would allow social housing projects to be built faster with less cost, giving priority to providing homes for people who need them most and working toward maintaining diversity in the city.

Learn more:

Next steps:

The first phase of public engagement has now concluded. It was open between September 18 and October 22, 2024. We are now compiling feedback and making policy revisions before providing a public update in Q1 2025, and bringing the proposal to City Council for a decision in late Q2 2025.


Page last updated: 24 Oct 2024, 10:50 AM