Tenant-based building assessment framework for rehabilitation of low-income housing in Vancouver

For decades, Single Room Occupancy (SRO) buildings have served as “housing of last resort before homelessness” for thousands of Vancouver’s most vulnerable residents. In recent years it has also been shown that SROs are the first step out of homelessness for many. However, these units do not contain bathrooms or kitchens and many buildings are in serious disrepair. Governments have long recognized the need to first improve and eventually replace these units, but action has been inadequate.

This research project aims to ensure that the planning and policy process for Single Room Occupancy buildings considers the tenants’ voices. Governments recognize the need to improve and replace Single Room Occupancy units, but action has been inadequate. By including tenant input, this approach will speed up the community-based rehabilitation, including acquisition and renovation, of buildings and guide investment in affordable housing.

Project scope and expected outcomes

Tenants can help prioritize investment in affordable housing

Single Room Occupancy (SRO) buildings have become the “housing of last resort before homelessness” for thousands of vulnerable residents in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. For many, these buildings are also the first step out of homelessness. Despite their importance, these units don’t have bathrooms or kitchens, and many buildings are in serious disrepair. Governments recognize the need to improve and eventually replace these units, progress remains slow.

This research project is key to ensuring that the planning and policy process for Single Room Occupancy buildings considers tenants’ voices. Starting with the results of the 2024 SRO Tenant Survey, the research will unearth the most important factors to consider when investing in buildings that contain Single Room Occupancy units. It will also determine which buildings to prioritize for acquisition, rehabilitation and other investment.

Learning from the tenants

This project will include a series of tenant focus groups, workshops, quantitative analysis and strategy sessions to:

• Have tenants outline the most important factors to consider when investing in buildings with Single Room Occupancy units, discussing results from the 2024 SRO Tenant Survey.
• Discuss which of the 76 survey questions are relevant to making decisions around building acquisition, rehabilitation or other policy tools being considered by the Intergovernmental Working Group on Single Room Occupancy units created in 2023.
• Develop a weighting and scoring system for survey questions and answers as they relate to different policy tools.
• Develop and test an investment matrix that uses tenant perspectives to assess which buildings would benefit from each policy tool.
• Create a priority list of buildings for investment using the new scoring system and data from the 2024 tenant survey.

Achieving more informed decisions

Through this research, tenants will be able to collaborate and shape knowledge mobilization about their living conditions. They will also be able to shape priorities for rehabilitating low-income housing stock and help guide investments that positively impact their community.

A key outcome of this project will be tools to help policymakers make more informed, grounded and effective decisions about how to prioritize the rehabilitation of the housing stock of Single Room Occupancy units.