The Roots Project

Real Ownership
for Real Vancouverites.

The Roots Project is a housing plan for Vancouverites who keep the city running and need a real path to stay.

It helps renters build protected equity, creates permanent affordable rental homes, protects starter homes from bulk buyers, and requires family-sized, pet-inclusive housing where public value helps create the project.

The principle

If people are paying to live in Vancouver, they should have a pathway to own a piece of Vancouver.

Ownership is not forced. Secure rental housing remains part of the plan. The point is to stop rent from disappearing forever while giving working people a realistic path to stability.

20%

of rent into protected equity

2,000

first-term homes target

days of local buyer priority

25%

family-sized housing requirement

The Policy

Built for renters,
families, and local buyers.

Each section opens into the working policy details while keeping the plan easy to scan on desktop and mobile.

Many renters already pay thousands of dollars each month. The barrier is saving a serious down payment while paying high rent and trying to qualify under changing mortgage rules.

Selected homes on city-owned land, city-partnered land, or density-bonus projects would place 20% of monthly rent into the Roots Equity Trust.

The Roots Project is based on ownership readiness, not an arbitrary countdown.

Renters should build an asset while they rent.

Example: $2,500 monthly rent

$500 per month diverted into protected equity
$6,000 built in one year
$30,000 built over five years
$60,000 built over ten years

Flexible pathway

Renters pay rent as normal
The 20% contribution is tracked in the trust
Participants receive annual equity statements
Mortgage-readiness and financial planning support is built in
Purchase happens when the renter is financially ready, subject to program rules

Roots Project FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Clear answers on rent-to-own accounts, buying timelines, secure rental options, and where the renter's equity is held.

Are renters forced to buy after five years?

No. The Roots Project is based on ownership readiness, not a forced deadline.

Renters build equity over time and can use it toward ownership when they are ready, subject to program rules and the specific housing agreement.

Does $30,000 really help someone buy in Vancouver?

On its own, no. The plan should be honest about that.

The 20% rent diversion is one part of a larger model that includes City land, protected pricing, shared-equity structures, co-op pathways, mortgage-readiness support, and local buyer protections.

Can renters keep building equity longer than five years?

Yes, where program rules and housing agreements allow.

Some renters may be ready sooner. Some may need longer. The goal is financial readiness, not an artificial countdown.

What happens if someone never wants to buy?

They should still have a stable housing option.

That is why the Roots Project includes a Permanent Affordable Rental Stream for residents who need secure rent instead of ownership.

Where is the money held?

The 20% contribution is held in a protected, City-backed Roots Equity Trust and reserved for the renter's future housing security.

It is insulated from landlord and developer accounts, and it should not become general City revenue.

Final commitment

Real Roots for Real Vancouverites

The Roots Project helps renters build equity, protects starter homes from corporate pressure, creates affordable rental homes, makes rental housing more humane, and requires family-sized homes for the next generation.

Homes are for people. Public land is for public good. Vancouverites deserve roots.

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