2 THE VOICE, THURSDAY, DEC. 1 , 2016 EDITOR JENNA TYTGAT Cws Shared blame Vancouver’s housing mar- ket has too many factors for one group of people to be responsible By KRISTYN ANTHONY point of a keynote speech ad- dressed to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Wednesday morning regarding housing in Vancouver. President and CEO of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Evan Siddall spoke to a packed room at the Westin Bayshore hotel. Addressing vulnerabilities, data gaps and affordability were some of the themes of Siddall’s speech, a com- mentary on the fluctuating national housing market. “Metro Vancouver has one of the highest rates of core housing need among all of Canada’s metropolitan ar- eas, at about 18 per cent,” Siddall said in his address, comparing that to the national average of 12.3 per cent. Housing market supply in the resale market in Metro Vancouver is nearing the lowest its been in 10 years Siddall said, noting urban planning is one of the contributing factors. He said in a city like Vancouver, where one in three people are renters, core housing need — the integration of standards for dwelling adequacy, suit- ability and affordability - is even more imperative. Shayne Ramsay, CEO of BC Housing commended Siddall’s remarks on working cohesively. “There are a lot of housing leaders and municipalities in the audience and to hear how all of those factors inter- relate [can help people understand], that it’s just not one thing that we need to focus on,” Ramsay said. “Govern- ments need to co-operate but we also need to work on the supply issue.” In Vancouver, Siddall emphasized that foreign investment, though a chal- lenging to measure, is not entirely to blame for a lack of available and afford- able housing. CMHC analysis shows that other fac- tors correlate better to explain house price increases, he added. “If supply doesn’t respond to in- creased demand, all of that demand goes into prices,” Siddall said. “We’ve got a choice — we either build more homes or you have higher prices.” Ss" and demand was the focal KRISTYN ANTHONY photo Evan Siddall, CEO of the CMHC speaks to the VBT at the Westin Bayshore hotel Wednesday. CLARE HENNIG photo Former asylum-seeker Jose Figueroa with his wife, Ivania (far left); two daughter, Esmeralda (right) and Ruby (middle); and son, Jose (far right) after yesterday’s court hearing. Appeal of innocence Man labelled terrorist asks to have name cleared By CLARE HENNIG ormer asylum-seeker Jose Figueroa appeared in court yes- terday morning to dispute the Ca- nadian Border Services Agency labeling him as a terrorist. Figueroa immigrated to Canada from E] Salvador after the Salvadoran Civil War and claimed refugee status in 1997. After 13 years of living and raising his three children in Langley, Canadian immigration decided in May 2010 that Figueroa was inadmissible to the coun- try because of his connection with an alleged terrorist organization in E] Sal- vador. He asked for his name to be cleared in his court appearance. “Tam not a terrorist,” Figueroa said, during the judicial review hearing. “Was La threat to Canada? Was I ille- gally in Canada?” Figueroa was granted permanent residency in Canada on compassionate grounds in December 2015, after living in a church in Langley for more than two years, seeking asylum from depor- tation. Figueroa had been issued a work visa and had valid paperwork at the time his deportation was ordered. The CBSA deemed Figueroa to be a securi- ty threat because of his ties to the Far- abundo Marti National Liberation Front as a student in the 1980s. The FMILN was voted into government pow- er in El Salvador in 2009. Federal Court Justice Yvan Roy said during the hearing that The FMLN is considered a terrorist organization by Canadian immigration because of the violent tactics it has used. Figueroa had never denied his membership to the court. Figueroa said this case involves more than just him as an individual be- cause it implicates all Salvadorans who have moved to Canada. “Ts the president of E] Salvador inad- missible to Canada because of his asso- ciation with The FMLN?” Figueroa asked Roy. After the hearing, Figueroa’s wife Ivania Figueroa said the proceedings have taken a toll on her family, but the fight has been worth it. “We're hoping for a better result, not only for my family but for other people too,” said Ivania. “Tt’s very hard to go through all this. It’s so complicated and there’s no way other people could do this fight, espe- cially if they are not knowledgeable in English,” she said. Figueroa thinks the issue has not yet been fairly resolved. “IT think you are asking for some- thing that the law does not allow, the matter has been heard already,” said Roy. “You may carry this in your mind and think the issue is not resolved, but I am in the business of the law.” Roy did not specify an exact date for a final decision but does not expect it to be made until after December. FIGUEROA time line 1 1997: Figueroa and his wife leave El Salvador 2 2009: The FMLN is voted into power in El Salvador 3 2010: Figueroa is labelled a terrorist and his deportation is ordered. 4 2013: A warrent is issued for Figueroa’s arrest, he takes asylum in a Langley church. 5 2015: Figueroa is granted permanent residence in Canada. 6 Yesterday: Figueroa appeals to have his name cleared. Source: http://www. timescolonist.com Temp shel- ters hit goal A temporary homeless shelter set to open is al- ready looking like an effec- tive way to escape the cold By SEAN HITREC 50-year-old man, who, only goes A: Roger, has been homeless in Vancouver for over 30 years, hates permanent shelters, and enjoys tempo- rary shelters. This comes at a time when RainCity Housing plans to open up a shelter on 1401 Hornby Street that will be open from early December to April of next year. The shelter will accommodate up to 40 people and is part of a yearly tempo- rary shelter provided by BC Housing. Accommodations include a separate lounge and eating area, nurses and nal- oxone training for staff. Roger prefers sleeping outside to staying in permanent shelters. “Yowre putting [together] a lot of people that have bad habits,” he said. “People stealing from you, night ter- rors in the bed beside you, in the other bed people are snoring, the other bed, the guy’s eyeing your gear up.” However, the temporary winter shel- ters, which he said are usually smaller, are a much better environment to sleep in. “Things are kept under control, they keep an eye on stuff,” he said. “It’s a smaller atmosphere and we’re listened to in those atmospheres.” Celine Mauboules, senior planner with housing policy and projects with the City of Vancouver, said the goals of the temporary projects align with cur- rent shelters. “T think it’s a real priority to ensure that we give people an opportunity to come inside, get people connected with services and then [housing],” Mauboules said. “And also, our real priority is to en- sure that [they are] managed responsi- bly and safely to ensure that they are well integrated into the community,” she said. “As far as temporary shelters goes, this is the best that we’ve had,” said Sherri Matt, the maintenance manager for RainCity Housing. “Bringing people in, building trust, hopefully gaining them permanent housing. That’s what it’s all about, right?” SEAN HITREC photo Workers set up dining tables at the new shelter at 1401 Hornby Street.