What is a Housing Needs Report?
Whistler’s Housing Needs Report is an informative report that conducts a deep dive into the current available quantitative and qualitative data on population, dwellings, and households, with the intention to update our understanding of housing need in terms of:
- How many households in Whistler face housing need?
- Who is facing this need – which types of households? Age? Other demographics?
- What type of need do they face? Affordability, suitability, or adequacy of housing?
The report will support future housing policy decisions by the municipality and other community stakeholders.
What does “Housing Need” mean?
According to Census Canada and CMHC, housing need is defined across three dimensions:
- Affordability – the household spends less than 30% of its gross income on shelter costs
- Suitability – there are enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of the household (according to National Occupancy Standards)
- Adequacy – the housing is not in need of major repairs
If a household experiences need in any one of the above dimensions, and would have to spend 30% or more of its gross income to afford the rent for an alternative suitable and adequate unit in the local market, then the household is in core housing need. If the household is in core housing need and has a shelter-cost-to-income ratio of 50% or more, then it is in extreme core housing need.
Why did Whistler Complete a Housing Needs Report?
In April 2019, new provincial legislation amended the Local Government Act establishing a requirement for local governments to complete housing needs reports by April 2022 and every five years thereafter. This includes minimum reporting and data collection requirements as determined by the provincial government.
More information
Although this report is not in itself an action plan, it will inform ongoing work at the municipality that is delivering recommendations and solutions for housing.
- Read the full report here
- Read the 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report
- Read Appendix A to the 2024 Housing Needs Report
- Watch the presentation to council here
- Read the 2021 market residential housing survey results here
Contact
For questions or comments please contact economicdevelopment@whistler.ca
