There’s a concerning trend of unaffordable housing in B.C. and most communities are feeling the negative impacts of that.
A Vital Signs report, which came out this year suggests that the average individual on the Sunshine Coast can afford to pay $734 a month in rent, but the average one-bedroom rental is about $1100 a month without utilities and internet. Single parents with children are also struggling to keep up with rent and finding appropriate housing.
A search online will point to the lack of available long-term rentals as well as the non-existent bachelor’s suites that are up for long term rental.
Sechelt was also listed in a CBC report which suggests that more than half of Sechelt residents are living with unaffordable wages, which is tied for fifth worst in all of B.C.
The report points to the fact the around 53 per cent of Sechelt is paying more than 30 per cent of their income on shelter, which is considered unaffordable.
SCRD Board Chair and Sechelt Mayor Bruce Milne believes one of the factors that’s causing this issue is a wage gap for employees.
This matter has been a priority for a majority of governments, but it does appear that an imminent solution is nowhere in sight.
The original report by CBC can be found here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/struggling-with-the-cost-of-rent-it-s-not-just-vancouver-1.4397508
