Taylor Fleming1, Will Damon1, Alexandra B Collins2, Sandra Czechaczek1, Jade Boyd3, Ryan McNeil4. 1. British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada. 2. British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada. 3. British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada. 4. British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada. Electronic address: ryan.mcneil@bccsu.ubc.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People who use drugs (PWUD) commonly experience housing vulnerability due to the intersection of drug laws, housing policies, gentrification, and social marginalization. Housing vulnerability produces social suffering amongst PWUD and is linked to health and social harms. In Vancouver, Canada, the rapid gentrification of the Downtown Eastside - a low-income inner-city neighbourhood - and the lack of affordable housing has led to residential evictions emerging as a key community concern. This study sought to understand the policies and practices that produced evictions among PWUD, situating vulnerabilities to evictions within the context of wider structural vulnerability of PWUD. METHODS: Between June 2015 and March 2016, baseline and 3-6 month follow-up qualitative interviews were conducted with recently evicted (past 60 days) PWUD in the Downtown Eastside. Participants were recruited by Peer Research Assistants. Baseline interviews (n = 56) focused on causes and socio-legal contexts of evictions, with follow-up interviews (n = 41) focusing on longer-term impacts. Interviews were analyzed thematically and interpreted by drawing on the concept of structural vulnerability. RESULTS: Most participants were evicted unlawfully, unfairly, and into homelessness. Participants were rendered structurally vulnerable to unlawful evictions by the shortcomings of existing residential tenancy laws and current dispute mechanisms. Residents of non-profit buildings, for whom it was unclear if provincial residential protections apply, found their housing security further undermined through the denial of rights extended to privately-housed tenants. Attempts to assert tenant rights further increased participants' vulnerability to eviction through landlord retaliation and targeting. CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate the inadequacy of existing housing policies and tenancy supports to account for the structural vulnerability of PWUD and their role in driving harms. Policy reforms are needed to address unlawful evictions and increase tenancy security, and must be accompanied by low-barrier interventions to more fully address this key driver of social suffering among PWUD.
BACKGROUND:People who use drugs (PWUD) commonly experience housing vulnerability due to the intersection of drug laws, housing policies, gentrification, and social marginalization. Housing vulnerability produces social suffering amongst PWUD and is linked to health and social harms. In Vancouver, Canada, the rapid gentrification of the Downtown Eastside - a low-income inner-city neighbourhood - and the lack of affordable housing has led to residential evictions emerging as a key community concern. This study sought to understand the policies and practices that produced evictions among PWUD, situating vulnerabilities to evictions within the context of wider structural vulnerability of PWUD. METHODS: Between June 2015 and March 2016, baseline and 3-6 month follow-up qualitative interviews were conducted with recently evicted (past 60 days) PWUD in the Downtown Eastside. Participants were recruited by Peer Research Assistants. Baseline interviews (n = 56) focused on causes and socio-legal contexts of evictions, with follow-up interviews (n = 41) focusing on longer-term impacts. Interviews were analyzed thematically and interpreted by drawing on the concept of structural vulnerability. RESULTS: Most participants were evicted unlawfully, unfairly, and into homelessness. Participants were rendered structurally vulnerable to unlawful evictions by the shortcomings of existing residential tenancy laws and current dispute mechanisms. Residents of non-profit buildings, for whom it was unclear if provincial residential protections apply, found their housing security further undermined through the denial of rights extended to privately-housed tenants. Attempts to assert tenant rights further increased participants' vulnerability to eviction through landlord retaliation and targeting. CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate the inadequacy of existing housing policies and tenancy supports to account for the structural vulnerability of PWUD and their role in driving harms. Policy reforms are needed to address unlawful evictions and increase tenancy security, and must be accompanied by low-barrier interventions to more fully address this key driver of social suffering among PWUD.
Authors: Taylor Fleming; Alexandra B Collins; Geoff Bardwell; Al Fowler; Jade Boyd; Will Small; Ryan McNeil Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2020-05-07
Authors: Alexandra B Collins; Jade Boyd; Samara Mayer; Al Fowler; Mary Clare Kennedy; Ricky N Bluthenthal; Thomas Kerr; Ryan McNeil Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2019-09-18
Authors: Ryan McNeil; Taylor Fleming; Alexandra B Collins; Sandra Czechaczek; Samara Mayer; Jade Boyd Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2021-03-18 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Taylor Fleming; Alexandra B Collins; Geoff Bardwell; Al Fowler; Jade Boyd; M J Milloy; Will Small; Ryan McNeil Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-02-26 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Soroush Moallef; Becky L Genberg; Kanna Hayashi; Shruti H Mehta; Gregory D Kirk; JinCheol Choi; Kora DeBeck; Michele Kipke; Richard D Moore; Marianna K Baum; Steven Shoptaw; Pamina M Gorbach; Brian Mustanski; Marjan Javanbakht; Susanne Siminski; M-J Milloy Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2022-09-15 Impact factor: 4.852
Authors: Yinong Zhao; Kate Shannon; Jane A Buxton; Lianping Ti; Theresa A Genovy; Melissa Braschel; Kathleen Deering Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-09-22 Impact factor: 4.135