CRD & District of 100 Mile House Undertake Housing Needs Assessment in the South

Residents will have an opportunity to provide feedback on housing needs in the coming months

The District of 100 Mile House and the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) have partnered to undertake a South Cariboo Housing Needs Assessment (HNA). This HNA will fulfil obligations under the Province of British Columbia’s new legislation (Housing Needs Report Regulation B.C. Reg. 90/2019) which took effect on April 16, 2019. This legislation requires local governments to collect data, analyze trends and present reports every five years that describe current and anticipated housing needs in their communities.

Following a competitive process, the Calibrate Group (www.calibrate.group) was chosen to assist with this work. This project will include the creation of reporting to fulfil those obligations, address housing challenges specific to our region, and include forecasts and recommendations to inform future housing policy.

“This is the right time to gather the information we need to meet the housing requirements of our area,” notes 100 Mile Mayor Mitch Campsall. “Demand for housing is growing, in 100 Mile House and across the region. The information we gather for this report will help us maximize housing affordability and availability as interest in the South Cariboo grows among potential home buyers.”

The areas to be considered in this HNA include the District of 100 Mile House, CRD Electoral Area G (Lac La Hache/108 Mile Ranch), Electoral Area H (Canim Lake/Forest Grove), and Electoral Area L (Lone Butte/Interlakes).

In addition to research from publicly available data sources such as Census data, BC Stats, and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), we will also undertake a process of gathering feedback from the community through consultation with stakeholder groups, public meetings, and an online survey.

1. Community Consultation: Our consultant will be meeting with key stakeholder groups such as the development community, First Nations, seniors’ organizations, residents’ associations, industry leaders, and real estate professionals. These meetings will take place from June to August of this year. These will ideally be held in person, but if necessary due to ongoing Covid-19 public health orders will be completed by video conference.
2. Public Engagement: Our consultant will also host a series of public meeting opportunities, hosted in all four areas, to gather feedback from the public on the unique housing challenges faced in the South Cariboo. These sessions will also take place from June to August and will be designed to allow for the maximum opportunity to safely meet in person with respect to Covid-19 public health orders (outdoors, smaller groups etc). We will continue to follow the public health officers’ advice and, if necessary to ensure safety, these meetings will be conducted using video conference.
3. An online survey will also be posted to our websites during the months of June and July to allow members of the public to share their feedback on housing. This will provide opportunities to engage with a broader range of people than those who are able to attend public meetings.

“Up-to-date statistics and public feedback help us build strong arguments for funding,” says CRD chair Margo

Wagner. “We know that demand is outpacing supply when it comes to support for housing initiatives. This assessment will provide a better sense of the types of housing most desired by residents of the region and assist to develop effective policies and programs to match the housing needs of the South Cariboo.”

The final report is expected to be completed and published by the end of November 2021. The report will include clear and practical actions that the District of 100 Mile House, the Cariboo Regional District, and key stakeholders can work together on implementing to help address housing issues in a coordinated, proactive, and sustainable manner. Although the report is a requirement under the new provincial legislation, we are excited about the opportunities that will be presented to address our region’s housing challenges.

For more information about the project and to stay up to date with upcoming meetings and surveys, please visit South Cariboo Housing Needs Assessment page.

Media Contacts:

Joanne Doddridge

jdoddridge@100milehouse.com

Director of Economic Development & Planning, District of 100 Mile House

(250) 395-2434

Chris Keam, Manager of Communications

ckeam@cariboord.ca

Cariboo Regional District

250-392-3351 or 1-800-665-1636