Affordable Housing in Victoria

As per the ENSC 409 lecture notes from January 15, 2009, one of the questions that should be asked when discussing whether or not your community is sustainable was, “Is it easier or harder for people to find homes that they can afford?” In the community of Victoria it is quite evident that affordable housing is a problem. The current availability of affordable housing in Victoria is among the lowest in Canada. This trend makes it difficult for low-income families to pay rent, and forces these families to spend more money on their rent rather than on other things like food or utilities.

In a recent article on VicNews.com, Dean Fortin, mayor of Victoria, will be proposing to city council this Thursday a plan which would offer homeowners up to $5000 to install secondary suites in their homes. (VicNews.com, 2009) The move is part of an effort to provide a financial incentive to homeowners while increasing the availability of affordable housing, as well as provide opportunity for contractors in construction trades.

This proposal seems like a good idea to me. I think that if it goes through it will get people who otherwise would not have built suites to go ahead and build them, as well as provide some work for trades industries such as construction, plumbing, and electrical. In a difficult economic time, people may be able to increase their revenue through renting suites to other families. This will require a significant capital investment from homeowners, as “the cost of building a suite starts at $20,000 and can range up to $100,000 in some cases.” (VicNews, 2009) This cost could however be repaid within a reasonably short pay-back period, since the demand for housing is so large in Victoria.


Original Article - Vass, K. Suite deal pitched by Fortin. January 19, 2009. Victoria News.Accessed January 19, 2009, from http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victorianews/news/37848284.html