Mayor says Vernon’s ‘neighbours’ have to do more to support housing strategy

A housing needs assessment for the North Okanagan has been completed by the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO), as a blueprint to a more coordinated regional approach to ensure available and affordable housing options.

The report indicates there is a shortfall of almost 1,200 low rent units, required for households earning less than $20,000. However, there are some extra units in the other rent ranges occupied by lower income tenants who cannot find lower rent units, the report said.

“We have some new social housing coming on stream in 2021. My desire is to see how close the supply and demand are and when they will cross,” Mayor Victor Cumming said. “It’s a numbers thing to see where we are.”

There are 2,330 Vernon households paying more than 30 per cent of their household income for housing and that is growing, the report said.

“This is a very significant problem in Vernon that we are working hard to address,” Coun. Kelly Fehr said. “Administration and the affordable housing committee have a lot of work to do.”

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Fehr and Coun. Kari Gares are Vernon representatives on the committee.

“This is a multi-layered issue, not just affordable housing, but on the market side as well. That is what this is a reflection of,” Gares said. “Economic conditions can change that for the better, but can also change it for worse. This is an excellent framework.”

The report also broke down home ownership in the region with Coldstream leading the way with primarily single family homes with higher assessment values than other areas.

“This needs assessment is supposed to be regional, and I see a lack of zoning, OCP (official community plan) direction in our neighbuors to have any mix of housing other than what is defined by market forces,” Cumming said.

While not naming Coldstream, the mayor applauded Armstrong, Enderby and Lumby for efforts on creating affordable housing.

“I see a focus, Vernon taking this on, affordability, affordable housing, I see us working at it in a systematic way and our neighbours less so. I see some of our neighbours doing it systematically, that there is no multi-family [housing] in their OCP,” Cumming said.

Cumming indicates if this is going to be a regional strategy, everyone has to be part of the solution.

Coun. Brian Quiring cautioned that the report and the vacancy rate don’t reflect the number of illegal suites in the city.

Staff indicated 250 secondary suites have been licensed with the city. There are another 700 or so illegal suites. The city policy is only to act on complaints about suites, which usually stem from infractions like noise and parking.

“We should be digging into this further at the affordable housing committee. There are a lot of illegal or non-conforming suites, which may not address affordability,” Gares said. “I see this on a daily basis where unauthorized, one-bedroom suites are renting for $1,200 a month. These [are] fundamental problems, and it does come down to supply and demand.”

The report is going to be reviewed in January by the affordable housing committee, then consultation will take place with stakeholders. Administration hopes to have targets developed by February.