The Islands Trust Council has declared that a housing equity and workforce shortage crisis exists on many of the islands within the Islands Trust Area. Strengthening housing affordability is an Islands Trust Council priority.
The Islands Trust Council is currently reviewing its Policy Statement to determine if there is a need to update or add policies about housing. See Islands 2050 for information on how to get involved.
Local trust committees and Bowen Island Municipality may have active projects related to affordable housing underway. Learn more on their web pages.
Affordable or Special Needs Housing
If you’re interested in developing affordable or special needs housing, it’s important to understand approval processes and the roles of different levels of government and community organizations.
Before you start the process, read our Affordable and Special Needs Application Guide.
Housing Agreements
A housing agreement is a legal agreement between property owners—usually the organization(s) or society developing the housing—and the local trust committee. A housing agreement will almost always be a condition of an application for affordable housing. The agreement is adopted by bylaw and establishes terms such as:
- Tenant or owner eligibility, usually based on income or other standards
- Rental rates
- Allowable rent increases, if applicable
- The amount a unit can be sold for, if applicable
Each year, the Islands Trust reviews its housing agreements to ensure the terms are being upheld. You can view Islands Trust housing agreements by clicking below on the community where the housing agreement exists:
- Denman Island Housing Agreements
- Galiano Island Housing Agreements
- Salt Spring Island Housing Agreements
- Bowen Island Municipality has several housing agreements: www.bowenislandmunicipality.ca/housing-agreement-bylaws
Make a Housing Agreement Application
The Islands Trust Guide to Housing Agreements provides information about the process of establishing a housing agreement.
Housing Needs Reports
Provincial legislation requires all local governments and local trust committees to produce housing needs reports by 2022 and then every five years. The Islands Trust has produced three housing needs reports:
- Northern Region Housing Needs Assessment, 2018 contains information about Denman, Hornby, Lasqueti, Gabriola, Keats, Gambier, and Thetis Islands.
- Southern Gulf islands Housing Needs Assessment, 2018 contains information about Galliano, South Pender, North Pender, Mayne and Saturna Islands.
- Island Women Against Violence Housing Needs Assessment for Salt Spring Island, 2015
- Capital Regional District Housing Needs Assessment for Salt Spring Island, 2020
Bowen Island Municipality has produced its own Housing Needs Assessment, 2020.