February 13, 2026

As mentioned in previous updates, on February 4, Council enacted several amendments on the Downtown East Side (DTES) Housing Implementation. The amendments enable new mixed-income rental housing and accelerate SRO replacement in the DTES, including the Downtown Eastside/Oppenheimer District (DEOD) and the FC-1 (Thornton Park) area. The report indicates that the changes are intended to improve development viability for both non-profit and private developers while maintaining affordability and livability standards.

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.

November 11, 2025

On November 5, Council referred a report to Public Hearing on the Downtown East Side Housing Implementation. The report proposes zoning and policy amendments to enable new mixed-income rental housing and accelerate SRO replacement in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), including the Downtown Eastside/Oppenheimer District (DEOD) and the FC-1 (Thornton Park) area. The report shares that the changes are intended to improve development viability for both non-profit and private developers while maintaining affordability and livability standards.

The following changes are proposed:

• Revised Definition of Social Housing:
  • Updates the DTES definition to align with BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund: at least 20% of units at shelter rates and 10% below Housing Income Limits (HILs), instead of one-third at shelter rates;
  • Allows ownership or long-term (60-year minimum) leases to non-profits or government agencies rather than requiring City ownership;
  • Aligns City policy with provincial funding programs to reduce financing gaps and improve project feasibility;
• Inclusionary Housing Requirements:
  • Reduces the mandatory inclusionary housing requirement in the DEOD from 60% to 20% social housing (all rental tenure);
  • Extends the same inclusionary model to the FC-1 (Thornton Park) District;
  • Enables for-profit developers to partner with non-profits for ownership or management of the social housing component, either as a turn-key transfer or through a long-term lease;
  • Intended to improve development viability while maintaining affordability targets;
• Height and Density Increases:
  • Allows floor space ratios (FSR) up to 11.0 for rental projects with at least 20% social housing;
  • Increases maximum height up to 100 m (approximately 32 storeys) in both DEOD and FC-1, subject to view corridor constraints and site design performance;
• Tenant Protections:
  • Enhanced tenant protection measures will apply in the DEOD and Thornton Park areas. All redevelopment or renovation projects, whether private or non-profit, must follow the non-market housing provisions of the Tenant Relocation and Protection Policy (TRPP), requiring permanent rehousing at rents affordable to 30% of tenant income. Temporary rent top-ups may be offered if immediate housing is unavailable;
• Development Cost Levy (DCL) Waivers:
  • Expands DCL exemptions to mixed-income projects where at least 20% of units meet the DTES social housing definition;
  • Extends eligibility for DCL relief to for-profit rental housing projects that include secured social housing units;
• DTES Housing Revitalization Grant Program:
  • Establishes a new City grant offering up to $50,000 per social housing unit (equivalent to about $10,000 per unit across the project) to non-profits to enhance viability of privately initiated inclusionary housing projects in the DEOD and Thornton Park areas of the DTES;
  • Can be combined with senior government programs and the City’s Community Housing Incentive Program (CHIP) to close financial gaps and enhance project feasibility;
• SRO Replacement Flexibility:
  • Allows limited relaxation of one-for-one replacement requirements to improve redevelopment feasibility: up to 20% room loss for full redevelopment and up to 50% for conversions to self-contained units;
  • Reduces minimum unit size for SRO conversions from 320 sq. ft. to 200 sq. ft.;
• Urban Design Framework:
  • Introduces two new building typologies that allow higher density on constrained parcels:
    • Tower-podium (up to 32 storeys) for larger or unencumbered sites.
    • High streetwall (up to 20 storeys) for narrower parcels or areas limited by view corridors.
  • Provides clearer design guidelines to support more flexible forms of development while maintaining sunlight access to Oppenheimer and Thornton Parks.
• Heritage Framework
  • Simplifies heritage review to reduce redevelopment delays.
  • Categorizes heritage buildings as “Redevelop” or “Rehabilitate,” allowing replacement of deteriorated or unsafe structures without extensive review.

More information can be found in the full report by City staff. 

October 14, 2025

The Province has appointed Larry Campbell to convene and coordinate partners in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) with the aim of improving the quality of life for all people who live and work in the neighbourhood.  

Campbell’s overall focus will be coordinating and advancing the Province’s improvements for people, public spaces, infrastructure, healthcare, housing, and economic development in the Downtown Eastside. In collaboration with the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and the parliamentary secretary for the Downtown Eastside and Chinatown, Campbell is specifically tasked with:  

• facilitating negotiations between all levels of government to advance planning, coordination, and capital investments in housing development, as well as prioritize improved efficiency of significant government investments in wraparound supports and service delivery in the area;
• engaging with government and non-government sectors for the purposes of aligning DTES activities and approaches with provincial policy objectives and priorities; and
• supporting the development and implementation of operational frameworks to address systemic challenges and improve outcomes in the DTES that align with provincial work currently underway. 

More information can be found in the news release. 

March 4, 2025

The City of Vancouver is proposing policy changes that will increase social and below-market rental housing options in the Downtown Eastside (DTES), including for those living in Single Room Occupancy buildings (SROs). The proposed changes follow City Council direction to explore policy updates that would make it easier and more affordable for governments, non-profits, and the private sector to build low-income housing and replace aging SROs. 

Proposed changes include: 

• Updating the policy for Inclusionary Social Housing in the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District (DEOD):  
• Decreasing from 60% social housing and 40% secured market rental to 80% secured market rental housing and 20% social housing.
• Leveraging private development to deliver Below-Market Rental Housing in the DEOD and Thornton Park:
• Requiring 10% of units at deeply discounted rents. These developments will come with strong tenant protections for existing residents.
• Increasing the allowable height and density:
• In some areas, up to 32 stories to support SRO replacement, private below-market rental housing, and inclusionary social housing developments.
• Aligning the definition of social housing with government funding programs:  
• Adjusting the requirements from a minimum of 33% of units at shelter rate of income assistance, to a minimum of 30% of units at or below Housing Income Limits, with at least 20% of units at the shelter rate for income assistance.
• Streamline development to accelerate SRO replacement:
• Making development faster through City-initiated rezoning, new heritage processes, and relaxing some SRO policies will allow SRO replacement to be delivered at a faster rate. 

Learn more and get involved: 

• Online: Visit the website to explore informational boards and a summary of the proposed changes share thoughts through a survey.
• Public Information Session: Join the City on Monday, May 12, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Japanese Hall (487 Alexander Street) to learn more and ask questions.
• Workshops for Organizations: Workshops will be held for community groups and organizations serving or based in the DTES. Details are available on the website. 

Please visit shapeyourcity.ca/dtes-housing to learn more and complete the survey by May 16. 

March 4, 2025

On February 25th, Council received a report for information providing a progress update on the November 2023 motion to explore actions to improve housing and wellness outcomes in the Downtown East Side (DTES). 

In exploring options to update the DTES Plan, various suggestions were noted, including: 

• SRO Replacement with Below-Market Rental Housing – The City is considering allowing private developers to replace aging SRO buildings with below-market rental housing with deeper affordability than current policies.
• Changes to Inclusionary Housing Policy in the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District (DEOD) – The existing policy requiring 60% social housing and 40% market rental is being reviewed due to financial viability concerns. Adjustments to this policy could impact the feasibility of mixed-use developments in the DEOD.
• Exploring increased heights and densities for social and supportive housing and for the updated inclusionary and new below-market rental housing option. Additional changes to other policies, such as heritage and view cones, are also being analyzed to increase viability and support housing delivery. Tenant relocation policies will be considered as an important tool to ensure existing residents have housing options to suit their needs.
• Citywide Incentives for Deeply Discounted Below-Market Rental Housing – The City is looking at ways to encourage private sector participation in below-market rental housing beyond the DTES. 

During the meeting, Council directed staff to determine total funding for non-profit and non-governmental organizations operating in the DTES to understand service provision and delivery outcomes. 

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.