In order to take steps towards making housing more affordable in Vancouver, all levels of government need to start collecting data, according to Eveline Xia, founder of Vancouverites for Affordable Housing.
A rally pressuring governments to record data for housing was held June 24 at the Vancouver Public Library. 
It’s time to start talking solutions, but in order to get there, we’ll need independent, reliable and accurate data, says Xia.
Many people have stories about someone who has sold a house that is now empty because the person doesn’t live here. There are entire neighbourhoods that are called ghost neighbourhoods or flipping neighbourhoods. 
Xia notes that these stories are only anecdotes - circumstantial evidence - but she feels the government is choosing to look away. 
“BC Real Estate Association recommends the government monitor the flow of foreign investment in housing by attaching a residency declaration somewhere in the land transfer form process, or other practical approach. Gathering-data on foreign investment in housing would provide an opportunity to gain further insight into this market segment, ” says Xia, who organized the rally.
“The US collects federally the data on foreign investors, which is a taboo subject. Australia has not only collected the data, but they also strongly implementing rules. People face jail time if they break the rules. We’re at step zero. Other people are at step 10,” she says. 
Experts agree that the government does not have crucial data needed by policymakers to begin addressing the housing affordability crisis that makes us an outlier in the world, particularly with regards to speculation, foreign ownership of and international capital. Many other jurisdictions around the world have been doing this for a long time, it’s high time we follow their lead.
Prof. Penny Gurstein, Director, School of Community and Regional Planning, UBC, Green MLA candidate Pete Fry, NDP MLA Jenny Kwan, NDP MP Don Davies spoke at the rally.