Vernon’s affordable housing stock to hit 1,000 units

“It really would be much easier just to maintain your current inventory. It would also make sense not to share information or resources with other housing providers, as there’s only so much funding available for new units. But these organizations understand we are in a housing crisis, and that every new unit is gold, regardless of who receives the funding, and they are doing everything they can to bring more units to Vernon.”

Speaking with Vernon Matters after the meeting, Sharkey said the new units planned for this year already had their funding secured and were ready for the shovels to start moving soil.

“My report only includes units that are completely funded and approved,” Sharkey said.

“We even have more potential projects, but they’re still in the development stage, and those organizations are going to be applying to B.C. Housing [for funding]. So, fingers crossed we get even more success, but I wanted my report to just cover things we knew for sure were already built or coming soon.”

Details on the location or opening dates of the approved units were not provided, as Sharkey said that would be up to the organizations that will deliver them to announce.

She said these projects fill a big hole in Vernon’s housing market.

“We have such a low vacancy rate, and we’re seeing people really at risk for their housing that we never used to see before, like families and seniors,” Sharkey explained.

“Affordability is such a challenge, rents are so high, and lack of units as well [are factors in housing stability]. So every affordable housing unit is gold, we just celebrate every time we have success and B.C. Housing partners with the non-profit sector.”

Sharkey noted the rental vacancy rate has a direct correlation with homelessness in Vernon, pointing to data that showed the number of people sleeping outside started to significantly climb when the rate dropped below two per cent in 2015. As of the latest update, the vacancy rate was still below that two per cent mark and there were still more people experiencing homelessness than there were shelter beds available in Vernon.

“We’re just tracking trends in the community, and we did have, between 2012 and 2014 when vacancy rates were up at six or seven per cent, we just didn’t see the same number of people unhoused, it was actually very challenging to find people sleeping outside. We know, anecdotally, that people were able to find housing,” Sharkey told Vernon Matters.

“We do need all types of housing, there are times where people have mental health or substance use issues where a landlord in the private market might not be the right fit. We do need different types of housing to support folks, but for sure, when we have more affordability, more availability, we see less homelessness in our community.”

Sharkey also announced Monday that she would be retiring from the Social Planning Committee after 20 years of service in a number of roles. She will officially vacate her position in June, saying there will be a two-month overlap period where she will help train and pass on her knowledge to whomever comes in to fill her role.

City Council accepted her report for information at Monday’s meeting.

by Liam Verster

Vernon’s affordable housing stock to hit 1,000 units

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