Addressed to SFU Residence and Housing
We, the undersigned residents of Simon Fraser University housing, are concerned about the continued increase in residence fees and the approach of aligning residence costs with private market rental prices.
SFU residence is meant to support students, not mirror the private housing market. Many students rely on on-campus housing because it is safer, more accessible, and closer to campus. For first-year, international, and low-income students in particular, residence is a necessity, not a choice.
Matching residence fees to market prices ignores the realities students face. The off-campus rental market in Metro Vancouver is already unaffordable for many students. Increasing residence fees to match those prices places additional financial pressure on residents who are already managing rising tuition, food, and living costs.
Rising residence fees directly affect student well-being, academic success, and retention. Students should not be forced to choose between stable housing and their education.
We call on SFU Residence and Housing to:
- Stop increasing residence fees to match private market rental prices
- Keep residence costs meaningfully below market rates
- Be transparent about how residence fees are set and how increases are justified
Affordable on-campus housing is essential to student success and a healthy campus community. We urge SFU Residence and Housing to prioritize accessibility, equity, and student needs in all decisions related to residence fees.
