DRAFT Affordable Housing Master Plan City of Grande Prairie

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1 DRAFT Affordable Housing Master Plan City of Grande Prairie Presentation to Community Development Committee September 28, 2010 Robyn Newton Consulting Joan D Angola Consulting Social Planning & Research Council of BC

2 Affordable Housing Master Plan Plan includes: Need and demand analysis Strategies to address housing need and demand Suggestions for the administration of affordable housing initiatives Fiscal impact analysis

3 Results of Needs and Demand Analysis KEY FINDINGS: 1. Housing demand will continue to be high in the City of Grande Prairie. 2. Most of the housing pressure in the region will continue to be on the City. 3. While most households can afford housing, specific groups struggle with shelter costs. 4. There are affordability challenges in Grande Prairie. 5. Home ownership is still the aspiration for many.

4 Proposed General Affordable Housing Guidelines for the City Encourage energy efficient features Encourage basic adaptability features Continue to lease rather than sell land for affordable housing initiatives Locate affordable housing close to amenities Encourage a diverse range of affordable housing types

5 Proposed General Affordable Housing Guidelines for the City Continued Disperse affordable housing throughout the city Integrate affordable housing with market housing wherever possible Leverage City resources through partnerships with other levels of government, non-profit organizations & developers Use housing agreements on title to secure affordable housing

6 Proposed Planning/Regulatory Initiatives for the City 1. Implement inclusionary zoning/density bonusing for new subdivisions and housing developments 2. Encourage innovative housing forms that allow for gentle intensification in Single Family areas 3. Encourage the development of mixed residential over commercial spaces 4. Explore the use of an employment linkage fee More information on these Strategies can be found on Page 54 of the Affordable Housing Master Plan

7 Proposed Fiscal Initiatives for the City 1. Increase current level of Housing Staff 2. Establish an affordable housing fund to support both affordable rental and entry-level ownership 3. Purchase current vacant condominium units to be used as City-administered affordable housing 4. Lease municipal land to develop shared equity condo units 5. Provide renovation grants to landlords 6. Provide financial incentives to developers to support the development of affordable housing More information on these Strategies can be found on Page 58 of the Affordable Housing Master Plan

8 Proposed Education/Awareness Initiatives for the City 1. Work with CMHC to provide workshops on CMHC funding programs 2. Raise awareness about the existence of municipal grants for home purchase 3. Continue to collaborate with the HOME program 4. Publish housing materials on the City of Grande Prairie web site, including the Master Plan 5. Provide a Grande Prairie 101 Information Session 6. Prepare an annual affordable housing Progress Report and Work Plan More information on these Strategies can be found on Page 63 of the Affordable Housing Master Plan

9 Proposed Advocacy Initiatives for the City 1. Work with the Province to increase housing for unmet community needs (i.e. Rent Geared to Income units) 2. Advocate for stronger tenant protections measures including enhanced rent controls 3. Request changes to Provincial legislation which would require contributions for employee housing related to oil projects 4. Advocate for changes in the Federal tax treatment of new rental housing 5. Advocate to the Federal government for a National Housing Strategy More information on these Strategies can be found on Page 66 of the Affordable Housing Master Plan

10 Proposed Monitoring Initiatives for the City 1. Maintain an inventory of social and affordable housing in the City 2. Monitor vacancy rates and rental rates relative to incomes to identify housing pressures More information on these Strategies can be found on Page 70 of the Affordable Housing Master Plan

11 Proposed Partnership Initiatives for the City 1. Continue to seek funding opportunities from other levels of government to collaboratively develop affordable housing projects 2. Continue to enter into partnerships with developers and non-profit housing providers to build and operate affordable housing More information on these Strategies can be found on Page 71 of the Affordable Housing Master Plan

12 Proposed structure for Managing Affordable Housing At least in the short term, the City should take the management role in new affordable housing developed The City should continue overseeing administration of any previously committed affordable housing This will require additional City housing staff and will have a financial impact on the City More information on the proposed Administration model can be found on Page 72 of the Affordable Housing Master Plan under Establishing a Housing Corporation

13 For more information, contact: Robyn Newton Robyn Newton Research & Consulting Joan D Angola Joan D Angola Consulting jdangola@uvic.ca Lorraine Copas SPARC BC lcopas@sparc.bc.ca