Housing
Affordability:
Victoria, BC
Bernie Pauly RN, Ph.D
Associate Professor, School of Nursing
Scientist, Centre for Addictions Research of BC
January 30, 2014
• Source
Canada 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.
• 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)
‘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.
•
Unsheltered
Emergency 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
3
2.5
2
Overall
Bach Overall
Less Than $700
1.5
1
0.5
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
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?
Total Bachelor Units in Victoria CMA by Rent Range
3,000
Number of Units
2,500
2,000
Total Bach. Units
Less Than $700/month
1,500
$700 - $799/month
1,000
500
0
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2006-2012). Rental Market Survey
and Pauly et al., 2013.
“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 People
Housing Registry Applicant Households by Type
(Snapshot as of March 31, 2013)
3, 0%
15, 1%
69, 5%
7, 0%
Families
147,
10%
People with Disabilities
410, 28%
Seniors
Wheelchair Modified
Singles
470, 32%
356, 24%
Rent Supplements
Transfers
Pending Applications
*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.
How much does it cost an individual for food and rent?
Single Individual (male) - Minimum
2013
wage
IA Disability IA PPMB
Income
Assistance
(IA)
$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
$524.98
$-37.06
$-289.63
$-337.55
Income
Remainder for monthly
expenses
“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
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