‘I felt so hopeless’: DTES single mom shares near-eviction experience at YWCA

Michelle Wright, a single mother of two, has lived at the YWCA ‘Cause We Care House’ located on East Hastings Street since 2018.

She’s now bravely sharing her story after narrowly escaping eviction just weeks after Christmas.

For Wright, her future at the building came into question earlier in 2023 when she decided to get a dog.

“We have a [building] policy that says you are allowed one animal per household. So, I thought why would I be treated any differently?” she recalled.

Unaware of the application process for pets in the building when she initially brought one in, she tells CityNews she was subsequently informed of the need to apply.

Undeterred, Wright proceeded to fulfill all the necessary requirements, including paying the building’s pet deposit fee, covering vaccination expenses, and registering the dog with the City of Vancouver.

However, despite investing substantial funds in the process — which amounted to more than $1,000 — the woman’s efforts were met with disappointment as her application was denied.

“The [YWCA] said, ‘Oh, we have the option to decline or accept you, and we choose to decline you,'” Wright told CityNews.

Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) documents reveal that the YWCA justified the denial of this privilege based on an alleged history of bad behavior within the building.

Faced with disappointment and the fear of traumatizing her children, Wright decided to keep the dog. She later found out she would be served an eviction notice because of it.

“The [YWCA’s] whole agenda is to help single mothers in the Downtown Eastside who are struggling with mental illness, addiction issues … so, to pick on vulnerable single mothers, threatening them with eviction and homelessness, over getting a puppy … I just felt hopeless,” Wright recalled.

With an impending notice hanging over her head, Wright missed the 10-day window to appeal through the RTB.

An RTB arbitrator then enforced the decision, and the eviction date was set for Dec. 31.

However, the YWCA claims it was a different date — Jan. 15, 2024 — a detail that wasn’t clarified in initial court documents.

Amidst the confusion, Wright’s fate took a positive turn when a BC Supreme Court judge granted her a stay until the end of February through a notice of application for interim stay, saving her from the immediate threat of homelessness.

“I’m grateful that there’s people in the justice system that actually care,” she said.

YWCA claims mother has ‘failed to attend’ attempts to resolve issue

When asked about specifics, the YWCA refused to comment as the matter is before the courts. The organization did mention attempts to resolve the situation with Wright, a claim the mother refutes.

The not-for-profit also declined to do an interview with CityNews regarding building policy, instead providing us with a written statement.

“There have been multiple breaches of policies throughout MW’s tenancy at YWCA Cause We Care House,” the YWCA said.

“The health and safety of tenants and YWCA employees are of utmost importance to us. Our housing policies are in place to ensure all families can enjoy their homes and have safe access to communal spaces. If a tenant is in violation of our policies, we work with them to resolve issues where possible. There have been attempts to meet with Ms. Wright to work through the specifics of her situation, but she has failed to attend.”

Wright’s next hearing, a judicial review, is scheduled for Feb. 22, at which time her future at the YWCA on East Hastings will be determined.

As this single mother continues her fight, her story sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals navigating the complex world of housing policies and the impact they have on families in the Downtown Eastside.