2024 SLRD Housing Need and Demand Study

The final report can be viewed here:

SLRD Housing Need and Demand Study 2024

The following presentation was delivered by the project consultants for the Virtual Open House held on October 1, 2024. It provides a summary of key findings from the 2024 Housing Need and Demand Study. 

In 2024, the SLRD engaged Urban Matters to prepare an update to the existing Housing Need and Demand Study. The new report incorporates the most recent Census data from 2021, and meets the new standardized reporting requirements set out by the Province. 

The 2024 SLRD report is comprehensive and includes both the interim reporting requirements and the regular reporting requirements as follows:

Interim Requirements

• The number of housing units needed currently and over the next 5 and 20 years, calculated using the Housing Needs Reports (HNR) Method provided in the Regulation. 
• A statement about the need for housing in close proximity to transportation infrastructure that supports walking, bicycling, public transit and other alternative forms of transportation.
• A description of the actions taken by the local government since receiving the most recent housing needs report (February 2020) to reduce housing needs. 

Regular Requirements

• 5-year and 20-year housing need calculations (total number of units needed) using a standard methodology
• Statements about the following key areas of local need:
  • Affordable housing
  • Rental housing
  • Special needs housing
  • Housing for seniors
  • Housing for families
  • Shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness and housing for individuals at risk of homelessness
• The number and percentage of households in core housing need and extreme core housing need
• A description of housing actions and changes since the last Housing Needs Report

For Regional Districts, there are five components used to determine need under the prescribed HNR Method:

1. Supply of units to reduce extreme core housing need (those paying more than 50% of income for housing)
2. Supply of units to reduce homelessness
3. Supply of units to address suppressed household formation
4. Supply of units needed to meet household growth over the next 5 or 20 years
5. Supply of units needed to meet at least 3% vacancy rate

These reports are a critical tool in informing land use planning across the SLRD, both in the short-term and the long-term. Results of the updated report will be used to inform future amendments to zoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) bylaws across the Regional District. 

This project concluded in December 2024, with the SLRD Board of Directors accepting the report at their meeting of December 11, 2024. 

Image