One of the most comprehensive studies of housing affordability in the Tri-Cities has been released in time to give political parties an opportunity to educate themselves before the May 14 provincial election.
But the author of the report says the release of the Tri-Cities Annual Housing Affordability Report a few weeks before the election is "fortuitous," although mostly coincidence.
Sandy Burpee, chair of the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group, said the timing is based on the March 31 fiscal period, used by most governments and agencies, and he hopes policy makers will use the data to make decisions that will ensure the Tri-Cities remain liveable
"I think it's pretty common knowledge that housing and affordability is a major challenge in the Tri-City area, and we wanted to put some numbers around that as to whether it's better or worse," Burpee told The Tri-City News.
Among the data contained in a report are statistics that confirm people living in older apartments along the Evergreen Line could be displaced without incentives provided to developers to keep costs low.
"We know that there's going to be pressure for redevelopment of purpose-built rental stock around Evergreen stations," Burpee said.
The data showed, for example, that average rents, though increasing, are still between $746 and $794 for one-bedroom and $933 to $989 for two bedroom; that's still cheaper than the $1,000 to $1,100 range for new apartment units, even with developer incentives.
"In Burquitlam and Moody Centre, it will be impossible to replace rentals around the stations at current rates without significant incentives for developers," Burpee said, acknowledging that all levels of government will need to play a role to keep housing affordable in these areas.
Other data showed:
31% of Tri-Cities renters are in "core housing need," which means they spend more than 30% of their gross household income on shelter.
11% of renters are at risk of homelessness.
Since 2008, when the economy tanked, median household income dropped from more than $60,000 to $54,000 annually.
Secondary suites have lower rents and are an increasingly important sector of the rental market.
Almost 2,500 people who own their own homes are at risk of homelessness.
Over 4,400 owner households had annual incomes of less than $20,000 a year.
More people are using the Share food bank and the number of food hampers being distributed has increased since 2008.
The number of people on social assistance has flattened but the number of seniors and working families receiving rental subsidies has increased since 2008, especially in Coquitlam.
Use of the bridge shelter in Port Coquitlam, especially by men, increased this winter after a two-year decline.
