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.

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.


Council Decision

This proposal was considered at a Public Hearing on November 27, 2025 where Council heard the staff presentation, asked questions of staff, and heard public comments before referring debate and decision to the Council Meeting on December 9, 2025. At the December 9th meeting, Council did not approve the proposal and instead directed staff to report back on proposed improvements to the Social Housing or Rental Tenure (SHORT) program to reduce rezoning approval timelines. Read the December 9 Meeting Minutes for the full Council decision.

简体中文 | 繁體中文

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.

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.


Council Decision

This proposal was considered at a Public Hearing on November 27, 2025 where Council heard the staff presentation, asked questions of staff, and heard public comments before referring debate and decision to the Council Meeting on December 9, 2025. At the December 9th meeting, Council did not approve the proposal and instead directed staff to report back on proposed improvements to the Social Housing or Rental Tenure (SHORT) program to reduce rezoning approval timelines. Read the December 9 Meeting Minutes for the full Council decision.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Updated proposal - comment form closed

    The Vancouver Social Housing Initiative proposes 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.

    Now that you have reviewed the proposal and/or attended an information session, we'd like to hear your feedback.

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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Original proposal - comment form closed

    Now that you have reviewed the proposal and/or attended an information session, we'd like to hear your feedback.

    You may want to consider:

    • Do you think the proposal works toward addressing housing needs in Vancouver, why or why not?
    • What do you want the project team to consider as we finalize the proposed zoning changes?
    • Other feedback you would like the project team to know.

    Please note your comment will be submitted to staff and will not be made public.

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Page last updated: 17 Feb 2026, 04:29 PM