Housing is a fundamental component of a healthy community, and it is important for a municipal government in a growing community to take leadership to ensure the housing supply will meet the needs of citizens.
As chair of the District of Squamish Housing Task Force, district staff and I will be working with Squamish Nation, private and non-profit sector leaders from our community to identify current and future housing needs and develop recommendations for council to facilitate the delivery of housing for citizens across the spectrum. The range includes core need subsidized social housing, rental housing and modest market housing, as well as conventional market housing.
It is important that all elements of the housing spectrum be addressed, as a shortage in supply in one part of the spectrum can have cascading impacts on the parts below. For example, if the supply of housing available for purchase is inadequate, would-be homebuyers end up renting, which puts additional pressure on those at the lower end of the rental market and increases the risk of homelessness when rental rates rise more rapidly than household income.
Squamish is starting to see a tightening in its housing supply; it is plain to see that vacancy rates are low and real estate sales volumes are on the upswing. Seniors and others on fixed incomes are having difficulty finding suitable housing; waitlists for subsidized and modest market housing are increasing. We know all too well the human and financial costs associated with homelessness, and it is a key priority of council to make sure our community’s housing needs are met.
Small-lot single family housing, secondary suites, laneway housing, rentals and subsidized social housing are just some of the housing types that have potential to address the need for affordable housing. A robust supply of new condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes in the market can also help to ensure that there is no undue pressure on the other parts of the housing spectrum. The Housing Task Force will identify the barriers and opportunities in each of these segments of the housing spectrum with a view to developing partnerships and recommendations to address these barriers.
We are fortunate live in a community that is attracting new residents and businesses from far and wide. A proactive approach on housing will ensure that Squamish can fully benefit from the increased interest in our community while maintaining a diversity of housing options for all of our citizens. You have my commitment as a member of council to advance this file, and I invite you to be in touch with feedback or suggestions you may have.
