Unaffordable affordable homes: Rent at some Vancouver single room occupancy units more than $1,000

Across downtown Vancouver, there are more than 160 single-room occupancy [SRO] buildings that contain small single rooms, usually with a shared kitchen and bathroom facilities.

The rental units serve as part of the city’s affordable housing stock, typically offering a cheaper option than market rental apartments.

SRO housing is often seen “as the last stop before homelessness,” according to the City of Vancouver’s website.

But without any control measures in place, the price of rent at certain privately-owned SROs continues to climb, sometimes reaching more than $1,000 a month, which advocates say is creating financial barriers for the city’s most vulnerable population.

$1,300 for a single room

Johnny Loudon