Addressing the Housing Crisis

Canek knows firsthand what it means to be housing insecure and how it feels to lose one’s home. This is why he is dedicated to creating housing opportunities for all Alexandrians. From our seniors aging in place, to young professionals trying to get a foothold in life, to our first responders and working families, and to those struggling to pay increasing rents, Canek believes we all deserve a safe and secure home.

While on City Council, Canek has delivered on the promise to create more affordable housing, seeing multiple projects through to fruition and securing several affordable housing projects.

Having the foresight to see that housing insecurity and eviction would become a crisis in Alexandria, Canek responded with direct action. He introduced a resolution supporting a rental, mortgage and credit-reporting moratorium, which was passed unanimously by both the Alexandria City Council and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. Canek didn’t stop there. In March 2020, he planted the seed for what would eventually become the Alexandria Eviction Prevention Task Force, a group made up of different city agencies, community partners and the judicial system dedicated to solving eviction issues in the city.

Canek has also provided desperately needed services and advocacy for residents of Alexandria. From securing justice for a resident of a roach-infested apartment, to finding a hotel room for someone who was kicked out of her apartment because she contracted COVID-19, to making sure that landlords and management companies follow code, to ensuring that information is circulated in multiple languages, Canek has delivered for the people.

Prior to being elected, Canek served as President of Tenants and Workers United and Chair of Alexandria’s Economic Opportunities Commission, where he worked to ensure Alexandria remained affordable for families across the city. He supported increasing the meals tax by 1% which has resulted in an additional $5 million a year dedicated to affordable housing
across the city. Canek believes if we truly value and want to celebrate diversity, then we must make a long-term commitment to addressing the housing needs of all our families.