Downtown Eastside tenants create cooling hubs to combat extreme heat in SROs

When record temperatures struck British Columbia in 2021, a resident of the Keefer Rooms died from heat-related complications, underscoring the danger faced by low-income SRO occupants. A subsequent coroner's report confirmed the death and noted that social housing accounted for ten percent of the total fatalities. Tenants, led by Wendy Pedersen, created the Downtown Eastside SRO Collaborative Society, which now runs heat-and-hydration "H2O" teams across about 30 SROs and has opened cooling rooms in two buildings, with six more slated thanks to city funding.

Researchers from UBC and the Montreal Heart Institute have documented indoor temperatures often exceeding outdoor heat by ten degrees, making sleep difficult and increasing exposure risk. While provincial programs provide free air-conditioners, many buildings lack the electrical capacity to support them, reinforcing the need for shared cooling spaces. Funding gaps remain for water supplies, heat-pump installations, and tenant stipends, prompting calls for provincial and federal support. Officials acknowledge the importance of SROs as affordable housing but stress they are not a long-term solution without upgrades.