Housing affordability remains a critical issue in Squamish affecting many in our community from the most vulnerable to those with stable incomes. We are responding to the need for a diversity of housing types in Squamish so that all residents have the opportunity to thrive here for decades to come. This has been a strategic focus of the District since 2014. 

In 2019, the District adopted the Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan (AHSAP) which outlines a range of strategies and actions aimed at boosting housing supply and access to affordable housing options. One of the strategies of the AHSAP is to increase the affordable housing unit supply by undertaking related policy and actions. The 2023 District of Squamish Housing Needs Report (HNR) estimates that in order to address population growth, as well as the existing housing needs, 9,600 new housing units will be required in the next 13 years (by 2036), with an estimated 6,840 units needed by 2031. To reach the targets for new housing production, the annual production rate of housing must nearly double by 2031 and increase by over 60% overall by 2036. In order to facilitate the level of needed housing production within the constraints of an existing infrastructure network, the regulatory system needs to change along with strategic investments in infrastructure upgrades for infill development.

According to the District's 2023 Housing Needs Report:

• A minimum of 6,840 new housing units are needed by 2031 at a range of affordability levels and sizes in order to meet the housing needs of the community in a high-growth scenario.  
• 6,840 new units are needed by 2031, 42% of which will be needed to serve households earning below $70,000 per year. 

District Support for Affordable Housing 

In November 2023, the District of Squamish adopted unprecedented zoning bylaw amendments that will significantly reduce barriers faced by affordable housing projects. The District also removed the need for rezoning and other barriers to facilitate more affordable housing units with greater speed and density so that all residents can thrive. 

Housing Squamish 

In 2021, the District established the Squamish Community Housing Society as an arms-length non-profit housing provider to increase the supply, availability and access to affordable housing options across the community and the entire housing spectrum. The Society works to improve access to housing within the community, bring more affordable housing to Squamish and advocate for housing action 

Housing Action

In the coming years, the District of Squamish will be implementing numerous changes to the housing regulatory framework to comply with recently adopted Provincial legislation, and to implement actions which were identified as part of the successful application to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). 

In 2023, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) announced the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), a new grant initiative to distribute $4 billion in federal funding to local governments and First Nations across Canada with the intent of encouraging governments to implement initiatives that will speed up housing development and increase supply at a local level through systemic changes. At least seven initiatives are required that will result in increasing the housing supply by 10% above ‘business as usual’ housing supply projection. Bonus funding is provided for missing middle and affordable housing units. The funds can be allocated to a wide range of housing-related projects and initiatives.  

HAF funding is performance-based depending on the number of additional units that will be expected as a result of implementing Housing Action Plan (HAP) initiatives. The grant funding is intended to be delivered over a three-year period. Advancement of later amounts is dependent on the success of the program in delivering new housing units beyond expected business as usual. The District’s HAF application commitments resulted in improving the as-is level of projected new housing units by an additional 256 over a period of three years, an improvement of approximately 18% (not enough to close the gap between projected supply and expected housing needs). It is the long-term impacts of systemic changes and strategic investments in infrastructure upgrades that are expected to close the housing needs gap. 

At the July 18, 2023, Regular Meeting, Council endorsed in principle the District of Squamish grant application for the CMHC HAF. The grant application was successful and on January 23, 2024, it was announced that the District of Squamish will receive $7,007,894 over a four-year period (2024-2027; $1.751M/year). 

• Letter from the Province - Bill 44, 46 and 47 (2024)
• Housing Needs Report (2023)
• Squamish Housing Profile infographic (2023)
• Perpetually Affordable Housing (PAH) Policy (2020) 
• Affordable Housing Strategy & Action Plan (2019)
• District B Sides Podcast Episode 1: Affordable Housing (2019)
• Housing Needs Assessment (2018)
• District of Squamish Affordable Housing Program Final Report (2018)