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Rents eat up renters’ income

Half of city renters face costs that aren’t affordable.
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Rental housing is affordable for only half of those who rent in Salmon Arm, some must resort to tents.- Image credit: Black Press file photo.

In Salmon Arm, half of rental households spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing, which does not meet the definition of affordable.

Statistics gathered in 2014 are as follows:

Columbia Shuswap Regional District

• Households - 21,745

• Number of rental households - 3,895 or 18 per cent

City of Salmon Arm

• Households - 7,345

• Number of rental households - 1,780 or 24 per cent

Housing Affordability

“Affordable” is traditionally defined as spending no more than 30 per cent of before-tax income on rent and utilities.

Columbia-Shuswap

• 1,955 rental households spend more than 30 per cent

• 50 per cent of rental households spend more than 30 per cent

• 18 per cent of rental households spend more than 50 per cent

City of Salmon Arm

• 50 per cent of rental households spend more than 30 per cent

• 17 per cent of rental households spend more than 50 per cent

(In 2014, the BC Non-Profit Housing Association and Vancity Credit Union partnered to develop the Canadian Rental Housing Index [CHRI] which provides an analysis of the affordability and suitability of rental housing in more than 800 municipalities and regions. The Columbia Shuswap Regional District and Salmon Arm were included.)

In 2012, BCNPHA examined projections of rental housing need for every regional district in B.C. Based on 2012 numbers, the CSRD would require 455 new rental units by 2021. By 2036, an additional 622 new rental units would be required.



Martha Wickett

About the Author: Martha Wickett

came to Salmon Arm in May of 2004 to work at the Observer. I was looking for a change from the hustle and bustle of the Lower Mainland, where I had spent more than a decade working in community newspapers.
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