Rural Housing

Housing is a growing challenge across communities. This is a complex challenge with multiple overlapping factors, including availability (quantity), quality, appropriateness (type) and affordability.

A range of housing types and place-based differences mean that specific housing needs and solutions can vary across rural communities. 

Generally, five factors impact housing in rural places:  

• Aged housing stock
• Homogenous supply 
• Limited or no rental vacancy
• Overlapping jurisdiction impacting policies and programs
• Limited data

Data & Research

These resources can help communities understand their trends, create and update housing needs assessments, and explore potential solutions. 

State of the Basin: Regional Housing Indicators

State of the Basin is home to many up-to-date analyzed data indicators, including seven related to housing:

• Housing affordability
• Housing stock diversity
• Occupation by usual residents
• Renting households
• Residential property values
• Subsidized housing
• Vacancy rates and rents

Housing Needs Report Assistant

Since 2019, the Province of British Columbia requires all local governments to complete housing needs reports every five years. Rural communities can face challenges finding relevant data. Selkirk Innovates designed the Housing Needs Report Assistant to help. It provides a list of data sources, questions to consider and a template for analysis.

Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Applied Research Housing Project

An exploration of rural housing in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary:

• Perspectives on rural market housing solutions
• Disaster recovery housing
• Economic indicators influencing housing in the Boundary
• Genelle case study

Other Housing Resources

Resources and information are always changing and there are many resources and examples from other places (for example, see noteworthy practices in Table 2). Below are some resources that may be helpful. Keep in mind that housing is a fast-changing landscape, and this list is not exhaustive. 

BC Housing

• Housing Research Centre
• Guides and Toolkits
• BC Builds

British Columbia Government

• Ministry of Housing
• Policy and planning tools for housing
• Workforce Housing Case Studies

Community Data Program

• Solutions Lab on Community Decision-Making Tools for Housing Issues

CMHC

• National Housing Strategy Initiatives

Columbia Basin Trust

• Housing

Rural Development Network

• Affordable housing resources

Statistics Canada

• Rural Canada Housing Profiles: Interactive Dashboard

University of Northern British Columbia – Community Development Institute

• Housing Information Portal

Action Examples from the Region & Beyond    

• Columbia Valley Housing Society
• Creston Housing Corporation
• Kaslo Housing Society
• Nakusp
• RDKB Housing Needs
• Rural Housing Information System
• University of Waterloo Thinking Beyond the Market Study

Have an Idea for a Housing Research Project?

We are here to help, support and collaborate with communities. Connect with us to discuss your research ideas and needs.