Vancouver鈥檚 council has approved Mayor Ken Sim鈥檚 plan to temporarily halt net new supportive housing projects in the city.

The change is a disappointment for B.C.鈥檚 Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, who said Thursday that they know supportive housing works to give people a second chance.

A news release from Sim鈥檚 office says it will allow the city to focus to 鈥渞enewing aging, deteriorating stock,鈥� and transition temporary modular housing into permanent homes, while pushing for more supply elsewhere in the region.

The city says the pause doesn鈥檛 apply to housing for seniors, women, families, youth aging out of care, health care-related housing, or 鈥渟ocial housing with occasional supports.鈥�

Councillors heard from more than 80 residents, many voicing concerns about the proposal, but the motion passed with six votes in favour on Wednesday night.

Kahlon told reporters in the legislature that the move by the city creates uncertainty in housing for those who are most vulnerable.

鈥淚t gets people out of encampments, it gets them out of parks, and it gives them another chance in life. We鈥檝e seen so much success across British Columbia, and I think the vote is disappointing,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been assured that the projects that are in the pipeline now will still proceed. But it does create some uncertainty for the future.鈥�

Coun. Lisa Dominato was among three who voted against Sim鈥檚 plan, saying it would 鈥渓ikely exacerbate homelessness.鈥�

She said the plan won鈥檛 compel other cities to step up and that it鈥檚 still unclear which supportive housing projects would go ahead.

鈥淭here was no consultation with the non-profit housing sector providers and the narrow scope of this motion, while I understand the intent of having exemptions, it鈥檚 actually stigmatizing,鈥� she said.

Dominato is a member of Sim鈥檚 ABC party. Another councillor who voted against the plan, Rebecca Bligh, was ejected from the party this month after speaking out against the housing plan.

When asked if the province could force Vancouver to build supportive housing, Kahlon said his ministry is 鈥渘ot at that point now鈥� because projects in the queue are going ahead.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to continue to advocate with them to find solutions, to support vulnerable people. That is our responsibility,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a conversation we鈥檒l have with the City of Vancouver. It鈥檚 too early to speak about those matters.鈥�

The plan says city staff will report twice a year on regional progress on supportive housing development and homelessness, adding that the move will not affect in-progress projects, applications submitted within six months of the motion passing or initiatives replacing existing units.

Sim said in the news release that the motion 鈥渋s about making sure supportive housing works for those who need it most, while ensuring better outcomes for everyone.鈥�

鈥淔or too long, Vancouver has shouldered more than its fair share of the region鈥檚 supportive housing, yet conditions in the Downtown Eastside continue to deteriorate,鈥� he said.

Data provided by BC Housing list 795 supportive housing units 鈥渦nderway鈥� in Vancouver as of the end of September 2024, which covers 鈥渁ny project that is in the planning, proposal or construction phase.鈥�