Vancouver housing prices tweet spurs 'DontHave1Million' social media campaign
Rocketing real estate prices in Vancouver are a huge concern for young people
Do you rent or own? It's the first question many Vancouverites ask one another.
"It's not just me, everybody's talking about it," said 29 year-old Eveline Xia, in an interview with CBC News.
"It's the number one issue we're talking about. People in higher income brackets, people in lower income brackets."
Sick of stressing out about how she could afford to have a family in Vancouver, the environmental professional took to Twitter to express her frustration over sky-high real estate prices in the city.
Xia had no idea her #DontHave1Million hashtag would go viral, trending on Twitter across Canada on Thursday.
"It's really struck a chord, people are responding like crazy," she said.
Many people have taken to Twitter to express their frustration over the lack of affordability in Vancouver real estate.
In March, one Vancouver home sold $567,000 over asking price.
"Listening to other people as well, they feel like they've finally found an outlet to express their dissatisfaction about the situation," said Xia.
"I wanted to make a little statement, I didn't think it was going to go this far."
As for solutions to the affordability issue, Xia said she's not sure what the answer is.
"People that I know are thinking of leaving [the city]."
To thrive, does <a href="https://twitter.com/CityofVancouver">@CityofVancouver</a> not need people like you and me? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Donthave1million?src=hash">#Donthave1million</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VancouverNeedsUs?src=hash">#VancouverNeedsUs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BC_Housing">@BC_Housing</a> <a href="http://t.co/PKyxIIhDaH">pic.twitter.com/PKyxIIhDaH</a>
—@eveline155Educated but can't afford to stay. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DontHave1Million?src=hash">#DontHave1Million</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vancouverneedsus?src=hash">#vancouverneedsus</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bcpoli?src=hash">#bcpoli</a> <a href="http://t.co/8aYEnZMPPc">http://t.co/8aYEnZMPPc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/eveline155">@eveline155</a> <a href="http://t.co/LOVeGlHxS9">pic.twitter.com/LOVeGlHxS9</a>
—@matsumaLove my work for a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/conservation?src=hash">#conservation</a> group but I <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/donthave1million?src=hash">#donthave1million</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vancouver?src=hash">#vancouver</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vanpoli?src=hash">#vanpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/genY?src=hash">#genY</a> <a href="http://t.co/4oIpaxaL0o">pic.twitter.com/4oIpaxaL0o</a>
—@CptClimate<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DontHave1Million?src=hash">#DontHave1Million</a> Housing isn't even owned by Canadians anymore, all bought by overseas & don't live here... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vancity?src=hash">#vancity</a> <a href="http://t.co/4zr5zPJd3D">pic.twitter.com/4zr5zPJd3D</a>
—@livehealthyCKABOUT THE AUTHOR
