Housing & Shelter 2008> Living In Niagara

Introduction to Housing and Shelter

Housing & Shelter 2008

The availability of affordable, safe and appropriate housing and shelter in a community has an impact on creating a healthy community and on the well being of its citizens. It is important to have a place to call home where you build a collective history with others.
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Housing Situations

Housing & Shelter 2008

According to the 2006 Census, there were 156,465 households in Niagara, of which 116,730 were owners and 39,735 were renters. A total population of 382,825 reported living in private households.
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Spending Over 30% of Income on Housing

Housing & Shelter 2008

Whether buying a house or renting an apartment, spending more than 30% of one’s income on housing creates financial difficulties. The proportion of households spending 30% or more of their income on rent is an indicator of affordability and a potential contributor to homelessness.
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Affordability of Housing

Housing & Shelter 2008

According to Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC, 2008), from a fixed sample, the average rent for a 2 bedroom (new and existing structure) was $752 in 2006, $760 in 2007 and $774 in 2008, representing a 2.8% increase in Niagara.
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Availability of Affordable and Subsidized Housing and Wait Times

Housing & Shelter 2008

There were 4,000 applicants on the waiting list for subsidized housing in Niagara, June of 2004. The available number of subsided rental housing units has not kept pace with the needs in the area.
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Vacancy Rates

Housing & Shelter 2008

According to the CMHC, 2008 Spring Survey, the St. Catharines – Niagara CMA vacancy rates for April, 2007 were 3.9% and went down to 3.7% in April, 2008.
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Housing Starts In Niagara

Housing & Shelter 2008

Statistics Canada (2007) reported that $33.3 million (Canadian) in building permits were filed in the St. Catharines-Niagara Census Metropolitan Area in May, 2007.
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New Housing Price Index

Housing & Shelter 2008

The New Housing Price Index (NHPI) measures changes over time in contractors’ selling prices for new homes. In Niagara, the NHPI has risen 47.5% since 1997. The National average increase was 10.7%.
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Core Housing Needs

Housing & Shelter 2008

Estimates of core housing needs in an area are derived by comparing the incomes of households currently living in unacceptable housing with the incomes that are required to access adequate, suitable and affordable housing in their communities.
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Homelessness and the Use of Shelters

Housing & Shelter 2008

In 2006, Niagara Region Community Services staff worked with 1,291 families experiencing different types of homelessness. Homelessness means one does not have a usual and safe place to call home and to return to at the end of the day. Such homelessness could involve sleeping on the street, in a...
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