In a bid to ensure housing is top of mind in the Oct. 15 municipal election, advocates have launched an online portal to give voters and politicians a one-stop shop for housing data in each of the province’s municipalities.
The B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association, Co-op Housing Federation of B.C. and Aboriginal Housing Management Association are providing housing needs information for every community so voters have easy access.
“Local governments are in a position to affect real change in addressing the housing crisis by shaping local land use, reducing delays, and driving zoning decisions that can boost housing starts for the kind of homes most desperately needed,” said Thom Armstrong, chief executive of the Co-operative Housing Federation of B.C.
“Our campaign not only provides municipal candidates with clear data on the specific needs in their communities but also a chance for them to send a clear signal to voters by publicly pledging to be part of the solution in taking substantive steps to address these needs.”
The portal offers data gleaned from Statistics Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to give a snapshot of household and demographic information, the percentage of homeowners versus renters, affordability indicators and units being built in each B.C. community.
Jill Atkey, chief executive of the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association, said the work demonstrates that solutions are at hand.
“October’s municipal elections are an opportunity for British Columbians to elect local candidates that commit to specific and actionable change on this critical issue,” she said.
The portal is available at makehousingcentral.ca/housingdata.
