Province puts 1.7 million towards community data collection on housing needs

The Provincial government has announced its plan to provide an investment of 1.7 million dollars for communities to collect and analyze data towards housing needs in their communities, that to better inform the province as to what issues that communities face and where the best allocation of housing resources should go.

As part of the preview of the project, the province noted that the data will inform housing needs reports, which will identify community housing needs, such as affordable housing, rental housing, seniors’ housing, as well as housing for people at risk of homelessness, families and people with special needs.

The reports will also help local governments support local economic growth by assessing future employment-housing needs.

Selina Robinson, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing noted how local governments have been very enthusiastic about the ongoing funding program.

“Housing needs reports are a way to gather important information as we partner with local governments to create the right housing for people in communities of all sizes around the province. The wave of enthusiasm and interest in applying for this grant tells us that local governments are eager to collect this information to help them build vibrant, thriving communities.”

The program is one which is administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

In the Northwest, two communities will be taking advantage of this round of funding from the provincial government with both Stewart and Terrace set to explore their housing issues further.

Terrace and the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine will receive $50,000 for their work; while Stewart will receive $15,000 towards their study.

 “The City of Terrace greatly appreciates the financial support to complete a housing-needs assessment. With the economic activity and the impacts of LNG and other resource projects in the northwest, housing pressure on residents in our community is significant. Funding for this assessment will allow us to move forward and address those challenges.” -- Sean Bujtas, deputy mayor, Terrace

The first housing needs report must be delivered by local governments by April 2022.

The list of communities to access the funding in 2019 can be viewed here.

More background on the announcement and a list of those communities set to receive the funding can be found here.

So far, Prince Rupert, Port Edward and North Coast Regional District do not appear on the list of communities that have accessed funding from the program.

Prince Rupert did put in an application for a housing study grant through the Northern Development Initiative trust in May of 2019 and conducted its own studies on themes of housing during their planning for Major Projects period five years ago.

For notes related to housing in the Northwest see our archive page here.

A look at more on the provincial scene can be explored from our Legislature archive page.