Image: Google Maps / The B.C. government announced Tuesday (Oct. 17) that it has purchased a vacant 48-room SRO, Keefer Rooms (above the mural of the woman) in Downtown Eastside Vancouver; the site has been vacant since a fire in 2022. The province did not disclose the purchase price.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

BC govt. buys SRO in DTES Vancouver

Province buys vacant 48-room SRO in DTES Vancouver for undisclosed price; site impacted by 2022 fire

Oct 17, 2023 | 1:39 PM

VANCOUVER — The provincial government has purchased a 48-unit SRO (single-room occupancy) in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, a move the BC government says will facilitate more low-income housing.

“We know that people throughout the province are struggling to find housing and need more affordable options in their community,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “By purchasing this property on Keefer Street, we are taking steps to prevent homelessness before it begins by preserving valuable low-income housing and partnering with organizations that will provide additional support to those who need it.”

The province, through BC Housing, bought Keefer Rooms, located at 222 Keefer St., to prevent much-needed affordable housing from being lost to the private market. The building has 48 single-room occupancy (SRO) units, but has been vacant since September 2022, due to a fire, the government said in a news release.

The building will be operated by the Downtown Eastside Community Land Trust association, which will provide some onsite programming support, including food services support and harm reduction.

“The Downtown Eastside Community Land Trust is dedicated to protecting property from the private market and championing community ownership in the DTES,” said Norm Leech, board chair of the association. “At Keefer Rooms, we’re working with community partners to create an innovative, holistic housing model that builds on and enhances the strengths of tenants and of the community.”

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The vacant building is expected to be operational by spring 2025 following completion of renovations, which include window replacements and electrical- and fire-system upgrades.

“This is exciting news for tenants who were displaced by the fire at the Keefer, some who want to move back,” said Wendy Pedersen, executive director, Downtown Eastside SRO Collaborative. “We’re all really looking forward to getting our tenant-led initiatives going in the building, which will demonstrate how tenant empowerment is key to housing transformation in the community.”

This purchase is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 77,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway, including nearly 8,000 in Vancouver.