The province says about 265 people have been moved to temporary housing, but one homeless advocate says the province housed the most visible, not the most vulnerable.

The city says 787 properties were declared vacant for 2019 — down 15 per cent from 2018 and 30 per cent from when the tax started.

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says December sales were 9.5 per cent above the 10-year average for the month.

"To just say let them sleep in a park or let them sleep on city sidewalks, I think that's a bit of a cop out," said Charles Gauthier with the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.

The project includes 31 units, which are expected to house between 65 and 90 women and children at rents of between $520 and $1,164 per month. 

Keeping a home empty in Vancouver is about to get more expensive.

A new report from Central 1 credit union suggests Metro Vancouver's housing market could be bouncing back faster than anticipated.

The staff report does recommend further exempting homes under renovation for a majority of the year while extending the complaint process to 90 days.

According to the report released Wednesday, $39.4 million in revenue was raised during the 2018 tax year, which was collected from the owners of 1,989 vacant properties.

"There's a lot of people here on fixed incomes that can not afford to sell ... it's not fair."