Issue
Housing is an integral part of economic growth. The connections between affordable housing investment and economic growth have been well recognized in literature. And yet investment in affordable housing has been insufficient to meet demands. To ensure long-term community sustainability, local and regional economic development and growth plans must consider the role of affordable housing in the growing economy.
Background
Housing affordability has been top of mind for all Canadians. Housing is considered “affordable” when a household spends no more than 30% of its gross income on shelter.
In Alberta, as of 2021 there were approximately 57,000 households in government-subsidized housing, and more than 24,000 households are waiting for suitable subsidized accommodation. In order to meet growing demand, Alberta will need to use a variety of tools to support another 25,000 households.
Recommendations
That the Government of Alberta:
- 1. Work with municipalities, industry and service providers to provide funding, incentives and the
right regulatory environment for service providers and developers to access existing stock to address affordable and supportive housing needs;
2. Work with the Federal Government, other provincial counterparts and municipalities to develop a cohesive strategy to address housing affordability, clearly defining roles and responsibilities and working relationships at each level of Government;
3. Provide greater flexibility for municipalities to amend land use zoning, create innovative incentives and various forms of tax relief or levies to make better use of existing homes, buildings, neighborhoods, including brownfield and greenfield developments to increase supply and density of housing;
4. Collaborate with municipal governments to work towards affordable housing and land development practices;
5. Assess the viability of publicly owned lands that could be deemed beneficial for affordable housing projects, and develop a strategy for attracting development; and,
6. Support increased productivity, including modular and factory-built construction.
