Mayor Gregor Robertson joined Vancouver Coastal Health, PHS Community Services, and London Drugs today to launch the annual Sox in the City campaign at Vancouver City Hall. The campaign, which is celebrating its 10th year, gathers and distributes new or gently used socks to people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Mayor Gregor Robertson, VCH’s Bethany Jeal, PHS Community Services Society’s Liz Evans and London Drugs’ Dave Woogman kicked off the 2010 Sox in the City campaign.

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Following six weeks of public consultation, the proposed budget for 2011 was released today, which includes funding increases for a number of key areas while keeping city taxes close to the rate of inflation.

“This budget increases funding for key areas like parks and libraries, while still keeping taxes at a low rate,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “We’re in a much better position than last year but we still face economic challenges. We are starting from a $20.6 million budget shortfall and our revenues have not recovered to pre-recession levels.

“Staff have done a remarkable job going through and finding efficiencies and savings throughout the City. This budget will ensure that services are being maintained, and any cutbacks that take place will not impact our most vulnerable citizens. And with a few more weeks until a final decision by council, citizens can continue to give us their input.”

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The Provincial Government’s support for up to four temporary shelters is good news for Vancouver, says Mayor Gregor Robertson, and will help keep the City’s most vulnerable citizens safe and warm this winter.

“I want to thank Minister Rich Coleman and the BC government for their support,” said Mayor Robertson. “The investment they are making in difficult economic times will make a real difference for people who need it the most.”

Last year, the City partnered with the Province to open four temporary winter shelters, in Mt. Pleasant, Kitsilano, Downtown South, and the West End. The locations for this year’s shelters have not been selected, but could involve the same as last year. All four shelters will close no later than the end of April 2011.

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New statistics show Vancouver’s increased enforcement of the City’s standards of maintenance and safety related by-laws has resulted in improved compliance for many single-room occupancy (SRO) buildings in the Downtown Eastside.

Since April of 2009, as a result of Council direction, City staff have taken action on 28 SRO buildings in the Downtown Eastside that had significant and ongoing by-law violations. The increased enforcement, which includes using the threat of legal injunctions, has resulted in 24 of 28 SRO buildings either fully complying (21) or in the process (three) of complying.

“The City’s work to strengthen our enforcement on building maintenance and safety codes is paying off,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Council’s direction to seek out new tools, including legal injunctions, as a way to gain compliance on Downtown Eastside buildings, is achieving solid improvements.

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A motion coming to city council next week calls for the City to begin exploring the creation of modular housing in Vancouver, something Mayor Robertson says can potentially provide a solution to part of the affordable housing crisis in the city.

“Modular housing can be built much more quickly and for a lower cost than permanent housing, which makes it a good tool for easing the affordable housing crisis in Vancouver,” said Mayor Robertson. “We have over 1,500 new social housing units being built in partnership with the Province, but it will take years until they are all completed. We have a shortage of affordable market rentals, there is a lack of family and workforce housing, and seniors and students are being priced out of Vancouver.

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Mayor Robertson welcomed today’s announcement from Premier Campbell and Minister Rich Coleman of $225 million in new money for social housing in Vancouver, calling it a major step towards achieving the City’s goal of ending street homelessness by 2015.

“This is great news for Vancouver, and is a major step towards our goal of ending street homelessness by 2015,” said Mayor Robertson. “Today’s announcement of $225 million brings the total provincial investment for new social housing in Vancouver to $333 million since December 2008. Our partnership with the provincial government is paying off and delivering real results for the people of Vancouver.”

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