While often viewed as an affordable place to live, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) is experiencing a housing challenge that disproportionally affects the most vulnerable and marginalized residents in the valley. To respond to this growing housing challenge, the CVRD retained CitySpaces to prepare a Regional Affordable Housing Needs Assessment; a project aimed at identifying the current and emerging regional affordable housing needs.
As part of this Regional Affordable Housing Needs Assessment, our team collected and analyzed housing indicator data, including housing mix, tenure, rental prices, household- income, and vacancy rates. An affordability analysis on what households can afford was also calculated. Further, our team consulted with stakeholders and the community at-large using several engagement tools, including workshops, online survey, online mapping, interactive community posters, pop-up engagement at the farmers market, and one-on-one interviews.
Based on the data research and community engagement, the following regional affordable housing needs were identified:
- Housing for youth, students and young adults, including student dorms; affordable studios and one-bedroom units; as well as a youth safe house.
- Housing for low-income families, including affordable family-friendly rental housing.
- Housing for seniors, including accessible and adaptable housing, senior-friendly rental housing in the private market, and housing suitable for senior women living independently.
- Housing for vulnerable groups, including accessible housing for persons with disabilities, housing for at-risk LGBT2Q, and low-barrier housing for people with mental health issues.
- Permanent and affordable housing for the homeless with adequate supports.
- Improvements to the conditions of private market rental housing in need of major repair.
- Housing programs for low-income homeowners living in rural communities, including maintenance programs for rural homeowners living in inadequate conditions, and affordable manufactured or modular housing.
- Culturally-appropriate housing for First Nations.
The Regional Affordable Housing Needs Assessment established the baseline to inform future regional planning processes, including the anticipated Regional Sustainability Strategy. By identifying Regional Affordable Housing needs, the CVRD can move towards an informed dialogue with residents, and establish policies that will shape future land use planning and housing development patterns.
Funding for the CVRD Regional Affordable Housing Needs Assessment was generously supported by the Real Estate Foundation of BC and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
PROJECT TEAM:
Jada Basi Noha Sedky Linda Allen Joanna Gauld Shelley Gadsden Palmer