BRITTANY TAYLOR
COWICHAN VALLEY – Cowichan has a lot to offer, but living here is becoming increasingly expensive too. Renters need stable long-term housing, homeowners can struggle with the high cost of living, and businesses lose employees when they can’t find anywhere to live.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) wants to understand how it can help.
The Workforce Housing Survey for the Cowichan region closed on July 3, 2022, and the Economic Development Team has been busy sifting through the responses and preparing for next steps. The survey is the first step in the development of a regional Workforce Housing Strategy for Cowichan Valley.
The feedback gathered from both employers and employees provides an initial scan of the existing housing impacts, needs and preferences. This information will be used as a baseline for the development of the regional Workforce Housing Strategy.
“We’d been hearing throughout the year that the cost of housing was really impacting businesses in the region,” says Brittany Taylor, Acting Manager of Economic Development Cowichan, “now we have concrete data that shows how housing availability and affordability is exacerbating the already critical labour shortage.”
What we heard
Survey respondents, both employers and employees from across the Cowichan region, noted that housing affordability and availability had significantly impacted the workforce. The employee responses indicate a strong preference for home ownership as opposed to renting, and locating in a more rural or suburban lifestyle, as opposed to urban living.
Both employers and employees had mixed interest in a range of potential solutions, from employer led action to government initiatives; However, all responses indicated support for the creation of an organization to build and manage affordable housing.
To learn more, read through the Workforce Housing Survey Results summary.
Next steps
Economic Development Cowichan has released a request for proposals from qualified consultants to work with staff and other key stakeholders in the development of a regional Workforce Housing Strategy.
The strategy will be developed over several phases with significant public engagement, and under the guidance of a Project Advisory Committee. To ensure viable solutions for Cowichan, the Strategy will be aligned with the plans, policies and regulations that influence development in the region.
Public engagement and feedback throughout the process will be critical, so stay involved by subscribing to the Economic Development Cowichan newsletter, or visiting the project web-page on PlanYourCowichan.com/Workforce-Housing to find the most up to date information.
Brittany Taylor is acting Manager of the Cowichan Valley Economic Development