A hard look at the question of whether Vancouver's social-housing projects really attract crime

Police statistics reveal Vancouver’s social-housing projects can attract a certain level of crime, but not like many believe.

There are 14 sites the city is developing as supportive housing in partnership with the province following an agreement that was approved in 2007. The projects are characterized by things like below-market rents, units set aside for at-risk youth, and limited health-care services.

While most are running smoothly, a number continue to experience growing pains that persist more than a year or longer after tenants began moving in.

Still, interviews with government officials, building operators, tenants, and neighbours reveal a picture of social housing far less dramatic than many assume.

In a four-part series, the Georgia Straight explores the good, the bad, and the occasionally ugly of social-housing projects in Vancouver.

	Part one: Do Vancouver’s social-housing projects attract crime? It’s a question with a complicated answer
	Part two: Neighbours say police visits to supportive-housing sites no cause for alarm
	Part three: Police calls reveal growing pains persist at Vancouver supportive-housing projects
	Part four: How is Vancouver improving social housing? Choosing the right mix of tenants