A group of concerned Surrey tenants marched on Surrey City Hall Monday (May 27) in an attempt to halt what they call their “demovictions.”
Led by ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), a tenancy advocacy group, protesters are calling for Surrey to bring in anti-displacement tenant protections to stop what they call the “looming demoviction crisis.”
The rally started at Elizabeth Manor, where, according to ACORN, a pending redevelopment application for the affordable apartment building has not yet been heard or approved by city council – but that has not stopped the developer from serving all Elizabeth Manor residents with eviction notices.
Tenants of Elizabeth Manor and ACORN members walked to Surrey City Hall, many carrying signs, to demand plans to evict the 50-plus families be stopped, and anti-displacement tenant protections brought in to protect all Surrey renters from “demoviction.”
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“We expect that the redevelopment application will come to city hall at the next council meeting on June 10, so we’re hoping to meet with the mayor so that we can express our concerns and proposed solutions before then,” BC ACORN lead organizer Emily Armitage said after the march, via email.
“We want to see the development application halted until all residents are offered safe, affordable housing in the neighbourhood, as the city policy requires.”
ACORN tenant leader Arun Mulalka has lived at Elizabeth Manor for five years with his family and is paying $935 for his two-bedroom apartment.
“If I got evicted, my rent would almost triple. Who can afford that with expenses skyrocketing right now?” he queried. “I have a five-year-old daughter who is starting school in September, my whole life is here in this neighbourhood. If my family loses our home, where are we supposed to go?”
Demovictions of affordable apartment buildings to make way for luxury condos are becoming a widespread scourge across North Surrey, Armitage noted.
Another six apartment buildings within a block of Elizabeth Manor also have pending development applications, with most planned projects containing little to no affordable rentals.
“We can’t have this neighbourhood becoming the next Metrotown, but without action from city hall that’s the only outcome here,” said Mulalka.
Armitage said the group plans on having a presence at the upcoming council meeting on June 10.
