Resident remains in Granville Street SRO past deadline to move out

A single resident continues to occupy the Luugat single-room occupancy hotel on Granville Street, defying the provincial government's June 30 deadline for all tenants to move out. The NDP government and BC Housing confirmed Wednesday that efforts are still underway to secure appropriate housing for the last remaining individual.

As of July 1, three residents were still living at the Luugat. At that time, the B.C. government indicated that all three had either accepted or had pending offers for new accommodations. Throughout the relocation process, officials assured that no one would be forced out without a confirmed place to go.

Housing Minister Christine Boyle stated that the ministry is dedicated to finding the "right fit of housing" for each tenant, ensuring the success of new placements and preventing homelessness. She noted that this detailed, one-on-one work with tenants has already proven successful for nearly 80 individuals from the building.

Ryan Donnelly, the sole remaining resident, acknowledged that the offered room is a good size and expressed a desire to leave the current building's conditions. However, he remains uncertain if the proposed move is the right decision for him. The cost of keeping the single-room occupancy hotel open for one person has not been disclosed by the ministry.

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We’re working to find the right fit of housing. What we want is for the new housing to be successful so we don’t see people out on the street, and that’s the detailed work that staff engage in one-on-one with tenants, where they’ve been successful with nearly 80 tenants from the building.