Housing, homelessness and poverty emerge as top issues for voters heading into B.C. civic elections this fall
By Contributor
As voters prepare to go to the polls for local elections this fall and candidates across the province announce their intention to seek office, a new survey done by Research Co. for BC Non-Profit Housing Association, the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC and the Aboriginal Housing Management Association finds housing, homelessness and poverty are the dominant issues for British Columbians regardless of where in the province they live.
Housing, homelessness and poverty as the number one issue transcends all demographics, ages and genders according to the survey.
These findings are grounded in the increasingly severe lack of housing affordability in British Columbia where approximately 23,000 people experienced homelessness in 2019, and 20% of renters spend over half of their income on housing and utilities.
“These results and the importance of this as an issue should send a clear message to all incumbents and candidates seeking municipal office this fall that they need to bring a real commitment and real ideas to the table,” said Mario Canseco of Research Co.
“The need is great, and the research shows that voters will be prioritizing candidates that will commit to taking concrete action to address local housing needs.”
“With upcoming civic elections, voters should remember that municipalities shape the future of communities and the type of housing options that will be available decades into the future,” said Jill Atkey, CEO of BC Non-Profit Housing Association.
“While the challenges are clear, there are also solutions. British Columbia’s non-profit housing sector has the solutions and expertise to be an essential partner for local governments to help solve the housing crisis.”
In addition to ranking housing as a top issue, British Columbians also have preferred solutions for how local governments can tackle the challenge.
People overwhelmingly support taking action to address the housing crisis by cutting red tape and making better use of public land, as well as removing barriers to allow for a diversity of housing options to meet people’s needs.
“While blame for our current housing crisis is often laid at the provincial and federal governments, local governments aren’t bystanders – they have an essential role to play in addressing the housing crisis by shaping local land use and driving the zoning decisions that can tangibly affect housing starts,” said Thom Armstrong, CEO, Co-operative Housing Federation of BC.
“Indigenous housing plays a critical role in strengthening our communities, supporting individuals and families, and creating a sense of belonging and well-being,” said Margaret Pfoh, Aboriginal Housing Management Association CEO.
“Advancing reconciliation requires all communities to ensure that decision making on housing considers the needs of Indigenous people and the reality that adequate housing is a basic human right. In these challenging times, municipal leaders must think about the long-term.”
Key Findings:
- 39% of British Columbians rate housing, homelessness, and poverty as their number one concern. That is more than double the closest second place issue, healthcare, at 18%.
- 73% support streamlining municipal permitting and rezoning processes to fast-track development of rental housing, with a specific focus on affordable rental housing.
- 77% support contributing public land to non-profit and co-op housing developments for new affordable homes.
- 67% support waiving development cost-charges for non-profit and co-op housing developments.
- 66% support delegating approvals of non-profit and co-op housing developments that are consistent with official community plans to staff.
- 68% support including affordable housing targets to meet the unique needs of Indigenous people in housing needs reports.
Learn more:
More information about each organization is available here: AHMA, BCNPHA, CHF BC-30-
About the Survey
Results are based on an online study conducted from June 12 to June 14, 2022, among 2,000 adults in British Columbia by Research Co, Vancouver. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 2.2 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
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