Vancouver Greens on homelessness: day spaces, lockers and micro-cabin villages

SAFETY AND WELLBEING · PAGE 31

Unhoused Neighbours: what the Platform 2026 says

Homelessness is the subject of page 31 of the Green Party of Vancouver's 2026 platform. The party describes people experiencing homelessness as among the city's most vulnerable residents and says it supports responses based on evidence that connect them to shelter, services and housing. Most of the page is about practical needs during the day: where to go, where to keep belongings, and where to sleep safely.

The Greens would expand low-barrier daytime spaces, meaning places with few entry rules, where people can reach services and housing help, store belongings and rest. They would also add secure storage and community lockers, so that people can keep their things safe while they look for work or housing. For sleeping, the party proposes rapid shelter villages: small groups of private micro-cabins that lock, with storage, washrooms and support staff on site. The platform says each resident would have case management, which is one worker who follows their housing plan, and a goal for moving into permanent housing.

The last item is about supportive housing, which is housing with staff on site to help tenants. The platform calls for reversing what it names Sim's housing ban, referring to Mayor Ken Sim, and says the ban has led to more people living on the street. The Greens would instead use occupancy permits, the city approval a building needs before people can move in, to require proper staffing and services. Council decides where supportive housing is approved, so this commitment is within its power.

5 COMMITMENTS

What the party says it would do

1. Meeting people where they are

   The Greens say they support compassionate, evidence-based responses that connect people experiencing homelessness to shelter, services and housing while treating everyone with dignity and respect.

   Who has the power

   City, with others Council funds city outreach and shelter sites, while health services are provincial.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 31

2. Daytime shelters and places to be

   The party would expand low-barrier daytime spaces, places with few entry rules, where people experiencing homelessness can access services, connect with housing supports, store belongings and rest during the day.

   Who has the power

   City Council Council funds shelter sites and decides how city buildings and land are used.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 31

3. Secure storage solutions for people without homes

   The Greens would expand secure storage facilities and community lockers for people experiencing homelessness, so their belongings are protected while they access services, look for work and work toward permanent housing.

   Who has the power

   City Council Council can fund storage sites and lockers from the city budget and place them on city property.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 31

4. Reverse ban on supportive housing

   The party would reverse what the platform calls Sim's housing ban, which it says has led to more unhoused people on the streets. It would use occupancy permit requirements to make sure supportive housing is staffed and serviced for good living conditions and good relations with neighbours.

   Who has the power

   City Council Council decides where supportive housing is approved and controls the city's permits, including occupancy permits.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 31

5. Rapid shelter villages

   The Greens would set up small shelter villages with private, locking micro-cabins, storage, sanitation and on-site supports as a safe alternative to sleeping on the street. Each resident would have a clear path to permanent housing, case management and a housing placement goal.

   Who has the power

   City Council Council funds shelter sites and approves the use of city land for them.

   Source

   Platform 2026, page 31

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Questions about unhoused neighbours

ON THE BALLOT

The Green Party of Vancouver candidates behind this