Homes for Essential Workers

Housing for essential workers is deeply personal to me.

My mom spent decades working on the front lines of our healthcare system, and my wife continues to serve our community as a registered nurse. I've seen firsthand the dedication, compassion and resilience that healthcare workers bring to their jobs every day. I've also seen the pressures they face, both at work and at home.

Today, healthcare workers across British Columbia are advocating for safer working conditions, fair compensation and a stronger healthcare system. Those negotiations belong at the provincial level.

But that doesn't mean local government has no role to play.

One of the most practical ways a municipality can support healthcare workers is by helping more of them live in the communities they serve.

When nurses, paramedics, care aides and other essential workers are forced to live farther away because housing is out of reach, everyone feels the impact. Long commutes contribute to burnout, make recruitment and retention more difficult, and mean fewer healthcare workers are part of the everyday life of the community they care for.

The challenge isn't always monthly housing costs. For many working professionals, the biggest hurdle is saving a down payment while already paying some of the highest housing costs in the country.

That's why I believe we should build on successful local models.

At Innova in the City of North Vancouver, a pilot workforce housing program created nine homes for first responders and essential workers through an equity-share partnership involving the developer, BC Housing and the City. By reducing the amount buyers needed to finance, the program helped make homeownership possible for people who otherwise may have been priced out.

We also have another strong example close to home. Kiwanis Village West created 156 rental homes for local workers and families at below-market rents. Every home was leased within months, demonstrating just how significant the demand is for this type of housing.

These projects won't solve our housing challenges on their own. But they show what's possible when governments, non-profit organizations and the private sector work together toward a shared goal.

As our community grows, we should continue exploring partnerships that prioritize homes for the people who provide essential services, whether that's healthcare workers, first responders, teachers or other key members of our workforce.

I believe the City can do more by making workforce housing a clear priority, setting measurable goals and reporting publicly on our progress. That kind of transparency builds accountability while allowing residents to see what is working and where more effort is needed.

Supporting healthcare workers isn't only about what happens inside hospitals. It's also about making sure they have the opportunity to build a life in the community they serve.

The people who care for us every day deserve a fair chance to call North Vancouver home. I believe that's a goal worth working toward together.