Judy Graves’ next fight will be to ensure that homeless people actually get into the housing that is built for them
The City of Vancouver’s advocate for homeless people, Judy Graves, recently warned the provincial government of the consequences of not providing sufficient emergency shelter beds in the face of worsening weather and ongoing need. Housing Minister Rich Coleman has now confirmed that the province will pay for a new 42-bed shelter in the Marble Arch Hotel on Richards Street. Ongoing news stories and comments from the city and the province suggest a tug-of-war has been going on with regard to homelessness, shelters, and money for dealing with continuing needs. All that new social housing must negate the need for emergency shelters—or so the province’s thinking seems to suggest.
Judy Graves is also, according to an article in Vancouver Magazine, thinking about her next fight, which will be to ensure homeless people actually get into the housing built for them. New rooms are often occupied by people moving down from cheap housing to subsidized housing, a side effect of Vancouver’s intense rental squeeze.
We speak with Judy Graves.
