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Filling these vacancies would have an immediate impact on the community: Bolin

BC Housing’s vacancies in Fort St. John are more than three times the average for the community. Councillor Trevor Bolin believes that filling these vacancies would have an immediate, positive impact on the community.

Bolin cited a recent report from BC Housing that shows it is currently operating at a 15 percent vacancy rate in Fort St. John. The average is currently 4.8 percent.

“They’re substantially running vacancies,” he said.

In light of this fact, Bolin brought forward a motion requesting that council:

Direct Mayor Hansen to send a letter to the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, requesting that the vacant units operated by BC Housing in Fort St. John be filled and that BC Housing be held to maintain a vacancy no higher than the average for the community. Further that BC Housing provide the City of Fort St. John with regular reports as to the vacancy.

When these vacancies are filled, it could substantially help alleviate some of the issues Council’s Response Committee on Housing and Emergency Shelter (CRCHES) is working to address.

That’s not the only reason for Bolin’s motion, however.

“It took us six months and an FOI request to get that information, and it shouldn’t,” he said.

If Fort St. John was truly a partner to BC Housing and the province, the city wouldn’t have been forced to make an FOI request, Bolin pointed out.

“They need to share that information. Their 15 percent immediately impacts Fort St. John.”

With quarterly reports from BC Housing, and annual meetings with the Northern Regional Manager of BC Housing, Bolin hopes these changes will serve to keep the city abreast of the BC Housing vacancies in the community.

“I truly feel that at 15 percent, this has gotten away from them and us.”