VANCOUVER -- On Saturday, advocates dropped a banner off the Cambie Bridge in Vancouver calling for rent debt forgiveness.
BC ACORN, an advocacy organization, said the banner drop was an effort to escalate its campaign to end rent debt caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many of the people that lost income because of the pandemic restrictions also found themselves unable to afford rent and buy enough food,” said ACORN’s housing advocacy spokesperson Murray Martin in a news statement.
The white banner read “end rent debt” and included an illustration of the coronavirus.
Specifically, the group wants the B.C. government to reinstate the moratorium on evictions, end rent debt and enact vacancy rent control – a type of rent control attached to homes that prevents landlords from hiking the rental rate when a tenant leaves.
“(ACORN) hopes that by showing broad support for ending COVID rent debt (it) will convince (its) old housing ally David Eby that something needs to be done,” reads the news statement.
The organization says it will be meeting with Eby, B.C.’s Housing Minister and Attorney General, next week.
"David Eby used to come and speak at housing forums we held before he was elected. He was always showing unequivocal support for the cause. We hope he hasn't changed too much" said ACORN member Peter Gardner in the statement.
