Community input sought for SLRD’s 2024 Housing Need and Demand Study

Pemberton, BC — The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is inviting all residents in Electoral Areas A, B, C and D to provide their perspectives as part of its 2024 Housing Need and Demand Study (HNDS). This comprehensive study will help guide the region’s housing strategies.

Residents are encouraged to engage in the study by participating in the online community survey from September 19 to October 11, 2024. The survey is a critical opportunity for locals to share their thoughts on regional housing needs and provide valuable insights into affordability, adequacy, rental housing, housing for special needs, seniors and families, and shelters for individuals experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

In addition to the survey, the SLRD will host a virtual open house on October 1, 2024, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. This online event will allow residents to learn more about the study, ask questions, and discuss the SLRD’s housing needs. The Zoom link will be available on “Get Involved” –  the SLRD’s online engagement platform beginning September 28.

“We recognize housing is a critical issue for our communities, and input from our residents is essential,” said SLRD Board Chair Jen Ford. “The updated HNDS is a vital tool for understanding our current housing conditions and working toward a balanced market that meets the needs of residents. By gathering feedback, we can gain valuable insights into the region’s unique challenges and opportunities and ensure our planning effectively addresses the diverse housing requirements of the people living here.”

The 2024 HNDS will incorporate the latest 2021 Census data and meet the new standardized reporting requirements set out by the Province of British Columbia. The study will provide up-to-date data and projections for housing needs over the next five and 20 years. It will also inform future zoning bylaw amendments and updates to Official Community Plans (OCPs), shaping the region’s approach to housing development for years to come.

For more information on how to participate in the study, visit the SLRD’s 2024 Housing Need and Demand Study update page on the “Get Involved” portal. 

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About the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District 

Located in southwestern BC, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is a local government federation consisting of four member municipalities (the District of Lillooet, the District of Squamish, the Village of Pemberton and the Resort Municipality of Whistler) and four unincorporated, rural electoral areas (A, B, C, and D). Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a wide range of local, regional and sub-regional services to approximately 50,496 residents (2021 Census).

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District is found within the traditional territories of several First Nations, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), St'át'imc and Líl’wat. Small parts of the SLRD also overlap with the traditional territories of the Stó:lō, Tsleil-Waututh, Nlaka'pamux, Tŝilhqot’in, and Secwepemc Nations. While the SLRD does not provide direct services to the residents of the First Nations communities located within the region, the organization is committed to enhancing relations with the Indigenous communities and First Nations within whose territories the SLRD operates.