George Penfold Regional Innovation Chair Selkirk College Nelson B.C., September 13, 2008

 Lack of affordable housing affects our economy.  People need to live where they work and go to school, but what happens when they can’t afford to do so.  How does this impact our local economy’s vitality?  What is local government’s role in connecting affordable housing to business?

 $78.6 M (72% of total) in Residential Building Permits RDCK, 2007  54% of Residential Permit Value in rural RDCK  Annual house maintenance - 1% = $63.5 M annually

Kootenay Development Region (East and West Kootenay) Total employed, all industries ('000) Construction Finance, insurance, real estate, leasing Business, building, support services Compared to: Manufacturing Forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas4.15.4

 Assessed Developed Residential Property Value in RDCK (2008) - $6.35 B or approximately $113,400 per person in RDCK.  Approximately 15% of assessed residential value and 19% of all titles are held by non-residents  Largest “equity” pool for many households  Big contributor to basic quality of life, comfort and to “status” for many

 Homeowners contribute to lack of affordable inventory by “up scaling,” “home makeovers”  House Lust -America's Obsession with Our Homes (Doubleday) - Dan McGinn Real-life examples and research to reveal why so many of us have turned a basic need –shelter- into an arms race for square footage and eye popping digs.

 “Boomer” generation retiring. Creates housing demand for retired, semi retired “amenity migrants”  West Kootenay Labour Force projected needs - 7,100 new and replacement workers 2006 to 2011  Competing demands generate increasing prices if supply is not adequate  Average RDCK dwelling value escalated more (62%) than average household income (14%), and rental rates (8.35%) to 2006

Location (2006 Census)In CommuteOut Commute Nelson2,955 Rural Nelson (E.A.'s E.,F.)2,00055 Slocan Valley42585 Castlegar Area (Castlegar, I, J) Salmo Area (Salmo, G)180 Salmon Arm, Vernon50 Trail25 Upper Kootenay Lake (Kaslo, D.)25 Rossland20 Creston Valley (Creston, A., B., C.)2040 Calgary35 Total Non-Nelson3,070425

Dwelling Type Total RDCK Rural RDCKBC Total private dwellings occupied by usual residents (52% Rural) 24,68012,940 (52%)1,643,150 Single-detached houses 77.7%85%49.2% Semi-detached houses 1.4%3.1% Row houses 2.2%0.7%6.9% Apartments, duplex 3.1%10.0% Apartments with fewer than five storey 6.8%2.3%20.9% Apartments with five or more storey's 0.1%7.1% Other dwellings (Mobile) 8.7%13%2.8% Individuals/Families in supportive housing 1232

Location (2006 Census) Total Rental Households 2006 % Change Nelson, Salmo2, % Upper Kootenay Lake % Slocan Valley % Creston Valley1, % Castlegar Area % RDCK Total5,255 (22%)-8.5% CBT13, % BC493,995 (30%)-3.6%

Location (2006 Census) Avg. Dwelling Value 2006 Avg. Household Income 2005 Avg. Dwelling Value 2006/Avg. Household Income 2005 Nelson Salmo$267,855$52, Upper Kootenay Lake$232,095$44, Slocan Valley$227,480$44, Creston Valley$238,575$46, Castlegar Area$209,049$62, CBT$238,823$57, BC$418,703$67,6756.2

Location (2006 Census) % Total Households Spending 30% or more Proportion Rental Nelson Salmo28.4%46.3% Upper Kootenay Lake30.0%33.8% Slocan Valley24.4%33.9% Castlegar Area18.1%34.9% Creston Valley21.0%44.8% CBT21.1%40.5% BC28.4%45.5%

Location (2006 Census) One Person Households Lone-parent family households Couple Family Without children Couple Family With children Nelson Salmo45.8%15.6%15.4%13.5% Upper Kootenay Lake43.7%12.7%15.5%25.4% Slocan Valley46.6%15.3%20.1%12.2% Castlegar Area50.3%10.6%15.9%16.4% Creston Valley48.3%11.2%22.4%15.1% Central Kootenay RD46.8%13.9%17.7%14.7% CBT46.4%14.0%17.9%15.5% BC40.8%12.1%14.9%21.6%

Total Income (Tax filer 2005)Total Median Income Average Income Couple economic families13,945$57,197$66,043 Male lone-parent economic families480$48,918$50,667 Female lone-parent economic families1,775$27,918$34,581 Males 15 years and over not in economic families4,790$23,143$30,125 Females 15 years and over not in economic families4,625$18,744$23,775

 Different partners and roles depending on what is being considered: (affordable, accessible, labour market, social, supportive, etc.) basic shelter (emergency, homeless) shelter/care subsidized rental housing market rental housing non-market housing market housing  Local and/or Regional Government  Provincial and Federal Government  Local and/or Regional NGO’s  Private Sector  Need to start thinking about, collaborating, and developing strategies for housing in Labour Market and Housing Market contexts