A Vancouver housing co-operative is facing criticism after offering new members a place to live — only to raise their rent just a week before moving in by close to $1,000 per month, leaving the applicants stunned and questioning the co-op’s commitment to affordable housing.

In early October, the Ashley Mar Housing Co-operative unveiled three new highrises in South Vancouver, replacing 54 aging townhouses with 125 co-op units and 524 market rentals. Billed as Canada’s largest co-op housing redevelopment, the project was built through a rare partnership between the non-profit co-operative and a private developer.

But weeks later, newly accepted members of the co-operative emailed Postmedia, alleging the co-op’s board approved their applications at one housing rate, only to skyrocket their

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