As it searches for solutions to Vancouver's notoriously pricey real estate market, the City of Vancouver is asking the public to weigh in on new affordable housing schemes.
Voting has just launched for winners in the city's re:Think Housing competition, which invited the public to pitch affordable housing solutions in May.
Voting kicked off July 5 and continues online through July 19.
The city is offering a total of $8,000 in cash prizes across four categories. The competition has two main categories – one for innovative ideas for large-scale affordable housing projects within 800 metres of rapid transit and another for flexible affordable housing options on a smaller scale in residential areas, such as granny suites and coach housing.
All winning entries will be announced in late July, after which they'll be submitted to the Mayor's Task Force on Housing Affordability, which will include them in a final report to council this fall.
The task force was struck to examine conditions in Vancouver that might be barriers to the creation of affordable housing, the steps necessary to protect existing affordable housing and opportunities for increasing affordable housing.
