EDITORIAL: Let’s keep our longtime residents

The topic of affordable housing – or lack of it – is brought up again and again by Squamish residents on social media. 

The district has one of the lowest rental vacancies in the entire province, causing the price of suites to go up. 

In addition, the price of buying a house skyrocketed in the last couple years. Since last year, a typical single-family house in Squamish jumped 30 to 50 per cent in value, while townhouses and apartment units increased 15 to 30 per cent, according to BC Assessment. It wasn’t uncommon for homeowners to be shocked that their house went up by 70-plus per cent. 

Now, it’s become impossible, or at least very difficult, for many people to afford to live in Squamish. Some have even been forced to move away. 

And, to make matters worse for these people, Squamish’s population is expected to double in the next 20 years. Supply and demand isn’t on their side. 

In this issue, The Chief asked our five candidates running for the provincial election what they would do to encourage affordable housing. 

Each candidate claimed to have the answers – from putting money toward affordable housing, assistance programs and offering additional new units to working with municipal governments and helping people with disabilities.

There’s no perfect solution, as proven by other communities that have also gone through a housing crisis. 

But something urgently needs to be done in Squamish. It’s difficult to read post after post about people being forced to leave town due to their rent going up. Although their is landlord greed in some cases, it’s not always brand new homeowners’ fault since their mortgages are also more due to the jump in the price it costs to purchase a house. 

Dozens – likely even hundreds – of longtime Squamish residents who grew up here must leave, while residents of other communities who have seen their prices also jump see the district as a more affordable place to live. This is the new influx of people – those who can’t afford to live in, say, the North Shore or downtown Vancouver, but can make the payments in Squamish. 

We welcome the newcomers, but let’s also work to keep the long-term residents. They are an important part of what makes Squamish considered to be one of the best places to live in the world, despite the rising cost.