VANCOUVER — Vancouver City Council has advanced a motion brought forward by Councillor Pete Fry recognizing that access to housing is a critical component of healthcare, particularly for British Columbians who must travel to Vancouver for long-term, specialized medical treatment.

The motion, Housing Is Healthcare, responds to mounting evidence that patients undergoing cancer treatment, organ transplants, and other complex procedures often require months-long stays near, but not in, hospital, and face significant barriers securing affordable accommodations close to major medical centres.

While Council did not support a clause directing staff to consider density bonusing incentives through rezoning and permit applications, Council did approve the remaining components of the motion, including directing staff to formally share the City’s position with the Provincial Ministries of Health and Housing.

Council also approved a request that the Mayor write to the Ministers of Health and Housing expressing Vancouver’s willingness to support the creation of longer-term medical accommodation, should the Province choose to fund and administer housing of this nature.

“Too many patients are forced to navigate an impossible choice between accessing lifesaving medical care and finding a place they can afford to stay,” said Councillor Pete Fry. “Housing instability creates real barriers to treatment and adds stress at the worst possible time. Housing is not separate from healthcare, it is part of it.”

The motion further directs that a resolution be submitted to the 2024 Union of BC Municipalities Convention, calling on the Province to develop policies and programs to reduce the financial and logistical burdens faced by patients required to travel for specialized healthcare. This includes exploring subsidized medical accommodations near major urban health centres.

Vancouver’s major hospitals, including BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, and the new St. Paul’s Hospital campus, provide highly specialized care for patients from across British Columbia, many of whom arrive with little notice and limited housing options due to low vacancy rates, high costs, and hotel shortages.

By advancing this motion, Council signals Vancouver’s willingness to be a partner in addressing a province-wide gap in healthcare access, ensuring that patients can focus on recovery, not housing insecurity.