Vancouver City Council is set to greenlight the Seniors Housing Strategy next week to benefit seniors living in the city. As per city staff, over 194,000 people, 30% of the population, in Vancouver are 55 years or older, and the number is expected to shoot up exponentially in the coming decades.
Seniors Housing Strategy “identifies the housing needs and challenges of older adults, and strategies and actions to address these needs.” The city found during the formation of the strategy that seniors are facing massive affordability challenges.
What’s The State Of The City?
43% of the BC Housing’s social housing waitlist is made up of older adults 55 years of age or older. During the City’s last homelessness count, 21% of people counted were also identified as being 55 years or older.
The city said, “According to 2021 Census data, there are over 14,000 senior-led households aged 55+ who are paying more than 30% of their household income on rent in the private market… Over one-third of these households are in crisis (approximately 5,100 households) and spending over 50% of their household income on rent.”
What Does The Seniors Housing Strategy Seek To Address?
As per the city staff, “The Strategy seeks to prioritize the housing that is needed most, including social, supportive and co-op housing for older adults, along with subsidized assisted living and long-term care, while recognizing some need is filled by private-pay long-term care, assisted living and independent living.”
The Seniors Housing Strategy is guided by five key directions:
- Increase and improve the supply and renewal of affordable and appropriate housing for older adults.
- Improve housing support for older adults
- Improve access to information so seniors can effortlessly connect with services
- Increase the supply of deeply affordable housing, rental subsidies, and other services for older adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
- Improve other strategies and work to make Vancouver more equitable for older adults.
