Housing Affordability: Victoria, BC

Bernie Pauly RN, Ph.DAssociate Professor, School of NursingScientist, Centre for Addictions Research of BCJanuary 30, 2014

• Adequate housing: not requiring any major repairs.• Affordable dwellings

costs less than 30% of total before-tax household income.• Suitable housing has

enough bedrooms for household residents

(CMHC, Core Housing Need)

• SourceCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (2009). Research highlight: 2006 Census Housing Series: Issue 2—The Geography of Core Housing Need, 2001-2006. Socio-economic Series. Policy and Research Division. Ottawa, Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

‘Tip of the Iceberg’ Sources:• Pauly et al., (2013).

Facing Homelessness, Victoria: Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessenss and CARBC• Gaetz, S., et al. (2013).

The State of Homelessness in Canada 2013. Toronto.•

UnshelteredEmergency Sheltered: 1,659 individuals (Pauly et al., 2013)

Provisionally Accommodated

Insecurely housing (Core Housing Need): 27% of Greater Victorian

Renters are paying more than 30% of income for rent

10.9% are paying more than 50% (Severe Housing need). (Gaetz et al, 2013

How easy is it to find a place to live in Greater Victoria?

Private Apartment/Townhouse Vacancy Rates by Unit Type 2006-12 (Victoria CMA)

Unit Type 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Bach 0.4% 0.8% 0.6% 1.3% 0.8% 1.7% 1.3%

1 Bdrm 0.6% 0.6% 0.5% 1.6% 1.7% 2.5% 2.9%

2 Bdrm 0.4% 0.4% 0.3% 1.1% 1.2% 1.7% 2.9%

3+ Bdrm 0.2% 0.6% 0.9% 1.5% 1.6% 2.4% 4.7%

Total 0.5% 0.5% 0.4% 1.4% 1.5% 2.1% 2.8%

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2007-2012). Rental Market Report, Victoria CMA

Bachelor Vacancy Rates

2009 2010 2011 20120

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

OverallBach OverallLess Than $700

Source: Pauly et al., 2013. Facing Homelessness Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness

How much does it cost to rent in Victoria?Private Apartment/Townhouse Average Rent by Unit Type 2006-2012 (Victoria CMA)

Unit Type 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Bach $561 $589 $625 $646 $665 $676 $695

1 Bdrm $680 $715 $764 $789 $805 $818 $827

2 Bdrm $875 $908 $964 $1000 $1025 $1046 $1061

3+ Bdrm $1168 $1210 $1303 $1357 $1368 $1373 $1398

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2007-2012). Rental Market Report, Victoria CMA.

How Many Low-priced Units Are in Greater Victoria?

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2006-2012). Rental Market Survey and Pauly et al., 2013.

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000Total Bachelor Units in Victoria CMA by Rent Range

Total Bach. UnitsLess Than $700/month$700 - $799/month

Num

ber o

f Uni

ts

“I was in the city twenty years, I only lived in two places, until they started to increase the rent and we got pushed out because of the rent increase, I couldn’t afford to live there anymore So, so I got pushed out of my home and just months later I was homeless for fifteen months ….so that’s what happened to me.” – Dee

Source: Pauly et al., (2013) Facing Homelessness, Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness and CARBC.

Housing Registry: 1477 PeopleHousing Registry Applicant Households by Type

(Snapshot as of March 31, 2013)

*Housing Registry statistics are based on a snapshot of those on the waitlist on the last day of the fiscal year.

Source: BC Housing, Operations Branch, Housing Services Reporting, 4th Quarter Activity - March 31, 2011-2012.

410; 28%

356; 24%

470; 32%

69; 5%15; 1%

3; 0%147; 10%7; 0%

Families

People with Disabilities

Seniors

Wheelchair Modified

Singles

Rent Supplements

Transfers

Pending Applications

How much does it cost an individual for food and rent?

Single Individual (male) - 2013

Minimum wage IA Disability IA PPMB

Income Assistance (IA)

Income$1525.90 $963.86 $711.29 $663.37

Bachelor Apt. Median Rent

$695.00 $695.00 $695.00 $695.00

Average monthly cost of food basket in BC

$305.92 $305.92 $305.92 $305.92

Remainder for monthly expenses

$524.98 $-37.06 $-289.63 $-337.55

“So you gotta toss up whether you pay your bills,

your hydro this month or you eat some food or you

give up food to pay your hydro.” -

Dee

Source: Food Banks Canada. (2012). Hunger Count 2012: British Columbia Summary of

Findings.

Subsidized Units/Rental Supplements

In 2012/13,• NO new subsidized units have been added

for homeless or Aboriginal peoples. 88 were added for families and seniors but some units deactivated. • NO new funding for rent supplements for

homeless individuals. Current Total: 150

Source: BC Housing. (2013). Homelessness Services System.

Eroding Foundations….

• Withdrawal of federal government e.g. CMHC• Privatization of Housing

Market (1993)• Rising Market Rents• Aging Housing Stock• Loss of Affordable Housing

stock (Gentrification)

• Income Policies• Welfare Reform

(2002)• Minimum Wage

• Employment Trends• Deinstitutionalization

The “New Poverty”

“Homelessness is a result of a series of

‘dehousing’ policies”

Hulchanski, 2005

Re-Building the Foundation

• Increase Rent Supps • Raise BC Housing

Shelter Allowance• Increase # of

Subsidized and Supportive Units

• Broaden Reach of Rental Assistance Programs

• National Housing Strategy

• Housing First: Evidence Based and Effective.

• Cooperative Housing

Thank you!

website: www.carbc.ca email: carbc@uvic.ca Blog: www.carbc2300.wordpress.com carbc_uvic carbc.uvic