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Affordable community housing — for whom?

Bob & Michael's Place receives criticism from the Downtown Eastside as frustration grows over barriers to new units

February 6, 2025

As Vancouver’s housing crisis intensifies, Bob & Michael’s Place — a beacon of hope for many — has faced both praise and criticism, reflecting the complex challenges of addressing affordable housing. 

Bob & Michael’s Place, located at 32 West Hastings Street, offers “affordable community housing” in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES). According to the housing project’s website, Bob & Michael’s aims to transform the lives of its residents by providing comfortable and dignified living spaces while building a “thriving community” amidst the ongoing housing crisis. 

Carol Lee, chair of Vancouver’s Chinatown Foundation, told Megaphone in an email that, “Bob & Michael’s Place is a response to one of the neighbourhood’s greatest needs — affordable housing,” she said.  

According to the Our Homes Can’t Wait (OHCW) coalition, the project was originally intended to house 100 per cent of its tenants at welfare rates, currently $500 per month for a single person. But today, only 50 per cent of the units are rented at the welfare rate, while the remaining 50 per cent are rented at the Housing Income Limits (HIL) rate. 

At HIL rate, a “micro” suite at Bob & Michael’s (approximately 300 square feet) will cost $1,150, while a two-bedroom suite will cost $1,800.   

According to Lee, Bob & Michael’s Place is intended for people “with average to low-income levels to find dignified housing.”  

But census data shows that in 2016, 54 per cent of individuals living in the DTES earned less than $20,000 on average, whereas for the city overall it was $46,065. Therefore, if a person earning $20,000 per year were to spend 30 per cent of their income on rent — the so-called standard “rule for rent “— they’d need to be housed at $500 per month, not even half of Bob & Michael’s most affordable HIL option. 

As of November, 90 per cent of the subsidized units have been tenanted through SUCCESS — an agency primarily serving immigrants in B.C., with its head office in Vancouver’s Chinatown. 

There have been concerns among the DTES community about how community members are being selected for housing at Bob & Michael’s. 

“All applicants must meet the standard requirements mandated by BC Housing. No preference is given to any ethnic minority,” said Lee. “Rather, priority will go to applicants that live or work in the Downtown Eastside… and express interest in living in a community-minded building.”  

In a July 2024 City News report, Nate Crompton, a member of OHCW, expressed his frustration. 

“Tons of our members have applied and have not gotten in. Nobody has gotten in. People are turned away for a huge number of reasons because of the barriers,” he said. 

According to OHCW, Bob & Michael’s has “unusually high barriers” for its proposed tenants, including an online application, submitting paper copies of birth certificates, credit checks, criminal records checks and requests for a minimum of three references. 

A personal experience 

One former potential tenant is Shift member Eva Takakenew, who had a disheartening experience with the application process. She writes: 

“It’s true that the spaces inside are dignified — they’re beautiful, in fact. I know because I applied for housing at Bob & Michael’s Place. I’m lucky I have a devoted mom who helped me collect all the application materials — something I found incredibly stressful. But at $1,150 per month, the 283-sq.-ft. micro suite that was eventually offered to me, with one electric hot plate for a kitchen, would have been far too small, and far too expensive.  

“For an unhoused person coming off the street, the space would be perfect. A place to call home, and be proud of that home too. But for me, I pay half the amount for a one-bedroom. For now, I’ll be staying put. 

“After the stress of waiting to know if I had a chance to ‘thrive’ at Bob & Michael’s, I understand how the community is feeling.” 

 
Community disappointment 

In the DTES Updates, News and Events Facebook group, community members discussed the “lack of follow up” from the Vancouver Chinese Foundation and SUCCESS, and a selection process that prioritizes market renters.  

“One of my program participants was told she was getting a unit and viewed it. She was so excited and then we received the heartbreaking news that they have passed her over and are granting the unit to someone who could pay market rent,” said one member. “She has mobility issues, is a long standing member of the DTES community and would make an amazing tenant. They need to be held accountable for how they are choosing their tenants.” 

As the housing crisis deepens, the story of Bob & Michael’s Place serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in creating truly affordable housing solutions. 

“We absolutely understand the frustration,” said Lee, who, in response to the Facebook commentary, pointed to the complexity of working with three levels of government, all of which have unique requirements.  

“We know Bob & Michael’s Place alone cannot solve the housing crisis and is a small part of bringing affordable and subsidized housing into the neighbourhood. But we hope it can show that it is worth finding new solutions to difficult problems for the DTES and its people.”   

Eva Takakenew (Thunderchild First Nation) loves writing and photography, and is a member of The Shift peer newsroom at Megaphone. 

Amy Romer is an award-winning writer and photojournalist based in North Vancouver, and is a journalism mentor with The Shift peer newsroom.

Published in Megaphone magazine on February 7, 2025