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SRD Housing Needs Report Project

In 2022, the SRD published its Housing Needs Report to better understand current and future housing needs in Electoral Areas A, B, C, and D.

Following recent amendments to the Local Government Act and the Housing Needs Report Regulation, all local governments are required to produce and publish an Interim Housing Needs Report (IHNR) by January 1, 2025. In response, the SRD has prepared its 2024 IHNR, attached as Appendix G to the 2022 Housing Needs Report, and in accordance with the Local Government Act. It is important to note that the IHNR is very prescriptive with 5-year and 20-year housing needs generated only using the BC HNR Calculator, a tool created through a partnership between the Province of BC and the University of British Columbia to comply with the Provincial Housing Needs Report (HNR) Method. The HNR Method identifies data sources and calculations that local governments must use to determine housing need.

As legislatively required, the SRD used the BC HNR Calculator to produce the IHNR, which automates data collection and processing for each regional district census division (Electoral Areas A, B, C and D). The IHNR must include the following three components:

  1. Total housing units required to meet current and anticipated need for the next 5 and 20 years;
  2. A description of the actions taken by the Strathcona Regional District to reduce housing needs since receiving the last HNR; and
  3. A statement about the need for housing in proximity to transportation infrastructure that supports walking, bicycling, public transit, or other alternative forms of transportation.

Potential Limitations

It should be noted that the projections contained within the IHNR offer a number of possible scenarios and should be used with caution. Wherever possible, the projections should be informed by a firm understanding of the context within each Strathcona Regional District Electoral Area. Known data limitations include:

  • Statistics Canada Census data is collected every five years, meaning the data does not capture changes in population, housing demand, or economic conditions that have occurred since the most recent 2021 census.
  • Census data provides information at various geographic levels, but it may not have the granularity needed to address more localized issues or trends.
  • Population estimates and projections may not fully account for factors like migration patterns or economic changes.
  • The data lacks context regarding local policies, zoning regulations, and community plans that influence housing needs.
  • Shifts in housing preferences may not be captured by historical Census data.
  • Specific population groups can be underrepresented in Census data.

Of Note

Given the potential limitations in the future applicability of the projections contained within the IHNR, housing needs projections identified in the IHNR are non-binding and do not commit the SRD to developing any number of housing units. Rather, the IHNR is meant to be a resource to help the Regional District better understand and plan for the needs of its communities.

Click here to view the Interim Housing Needs Report Info Sheet

SRD Housing Needs Reports – Final

Preliminary Findings of the Housing Needs Report Project – Videos

These videos review some of the preliminary findings for each Electoral Area including demography, household incomes, housing prices, and engagement feedback. 

Reports to SRD Board

More information about the Housing Need Report Project can be found on the following news releases:

Questions about the collection of this information may be directed to:

Meredith Starkey – Manager, Planning and Parks
778-346-9143  |  mstarkey@srd.ca