It has cost more than $100K a month to house 1 tenant in Vancouver SRO

Global News has learned that one guest has been staying at a former hotel on Granville Street, despite the B.C. government promising to shut it down.

The Luugat, now owned by the B.C. government, still has one last resident — Ryan Donnelly.

He was also still living there in mid-July.

The Ministry of Housing said it cost $101,000 to house Donnelly in July and he is still there.

“It’s insane,” Vancouver Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung said.

“I did some quick math and based on the average rent for, let’s say a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver, you could house somebody at market rent for more than four years for what it is costing taxpayers to keep one person in that building for one month.”

There is now no timeline to shutter the Luugat.

Housing Minister Christine Boyle did not make herself available for an interview on Tuesday.

Last month, Donnelly told Global News he suffers from a seizure disorder and requires a large room.

For significantly less money, the province could rent the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver with the monthly cost, including breakfast and evening snacks in the executive lounge, totalling about $70,000.