PRINCE GEORGE – The Regional District of Fraser Fort George has produced its first-ever housing needs assessment.
Key findings from the project include:
• The population of the Electoral Areas is growing, especially in Electoral Areas closer to Prince George,
• The population of the Electoral Areas is aging. By 2026, 22% of the population may be over the age of 65,
• Renter households earn less income than owners and are more likely to be at risk of housing insecurity, Nearly one-quarter of renter households in the Electoral Areas were either unaffordable, in need of major repair, or overcrowded,
• Adjusted for inflation, the cost of home ownership has increased 45% across the Electoral Areas over the past 10 years. Many residents have been priced out of the ownership market, and
• Couple households are much more likely to be able to meet their needs than single individuals or lone parents. Indigenous households are at a greater risk of housing insecurity than non-Indigenous households.
For the Chair of the Board for the Regional District, the study was overdue.
“There’s a migration of folks moving into the regional district,” says Art Kaehn. “The population has increased. But also the population is aging. [The survey] is timely because we need to look at what housing needs are required out there for the folks. Lower incomes, middle incomes as well as seniors.”
The study was mandated and funded by the Province of BC and needs to be reviewed every five years.
Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Electoral Areas Housing Needs Report Information Session
When: Thursday, December 9th 2021 from 7pm to 8:30pm
Where: Online via Zoom.
Visit www.rdffg.bc.ca/housing for meeting details.
