Published: October 20, 2025 at 8:38PM EDT
When Jacqueline Podewils learned her mother had reached the top of the waitlist for a life-saving double lung transplant, she jumped in to help move the then-62-year-old from Kelowna to Vancouver for three months of treatment and aftercare.
Podewils says the challenge and expense of finding temporary accommodation for her momnear Vancouver General Hospital six years ago inspired her to create Housing is Healthcare, an advocacy group calling for affordable options for out-of-town patients and their caregivers who need medical treatment in B.C.
She’s worried finding affordable accommodation near VGH and St. Paul’s Hospital will be next to impossible during the month-long World Cup event in Vancouver next June and July.
“It’s not like they’re going to want to be in Vancouver during FIFA, but they’re going to be there because they need to be. And if they make that choice to try and access care, how are they going to do it?” asked Podewils. “Are we really expecting patients to spend $2,000 a night just so they can access medical care?”
