Housing Solutions Project

Update - November 29, 2023 Non-Market & Employee Housing Bus Tour

Tour bus participants discussing an existing senior's housing development

Tour bus participants discussing a proposed BC Housing development site

On November 28, 2023 staff took Council and available local housing provider partners on a tour of local non-market and employee housing developments and development sites as part of the Housing Solutions Project. In total, the group visited 19 locations dispersed throughout the community. The tour took three and a half hours and was an excellent opportunity to understand where within the community different types of housing developments exist, while sharing knowledge and learning from each other's experiences in their efforts to provide non-market and employee housing. As an added benefit, this tour allowed partners who deliver both non-market and employee housing to our community member a chance to connect and strengthen relationships. Mayor Gary Sulz provided the following comment about his experience on the tour:

"Today, members of Council joined city staff and non-market and employee housing operators on a city-wide bus tour as part of the Housing Solutions Project. It was a great opportunity to see what kind of housing exists and is coming online in our community and to hear from our community partners who operate different types of housing in the community. Collectively, we can improve the housing situation together. It was also a great reminder that a lot of important achievements can happen from the work for just one or two people with big hearts. " ~ Mayor Sulz

What is The Housing Solutions Project?

The Housing Solutions Project is an exploratory, fact-finding exercise which aims to establish in-depth knowledge of the current context of the local housing supply chain. The goal is to understand the needs of the local housing supply chain to best position the city to be an effective and results oriented housing solutions partner. The project includes five phases and is anticipated to be completed over the course of eight months.

Each phase has been designed to develop in-depth knowledge of local housing issues through the lens of the housing supply chain and its’ key players. It will consider challenges and opportunities that exist within this chain and allow for the consideration of various approaches that could be undertaken by the city to effect meaningful change alongside its supply chain partners, given city resources.

Why Are We Doing This Project?

The City of Revelstoke has been actively evaluating and improving local regulatory factors (e.g. land use regulations, approval processes, etc.) in an effort to speed up the supply of new housing being built in the community, while also connecting with community partners to understand housing needs within the community.

However, local regulatory factors are not the only aspects affecting the supply of housing. The coordination of activities necessary to increase the amount of new housing being built in the community is complex. It requires the involvement of many different groups and organizations.

The City views local groups and organizations working to increase the number of homes in Revelstoke as community partners and we want to know our partners better so that we can be better partners ourselves. Knowing our partners well, means we are better positioned to more effective and results oriented with our contributions to housing supply solutions.

What Are The Project Objectives?

OBJECTIVE 1 Understand the city’s current role(s) in the local housing supply chain, including solutions achieved to date, and communicate this to the public to raise awareness of the local housing climate and these actions.

OBJECTIVE 2 Establish council’s housing goals and priorities.

OBJECTIVE 3 Set the direction for the city’s role(s), and their fiscal impacts, in the local housing supply chain moving forward

OBJECTIVE 4 Determine which non-market housing type(s) council wishes to target as a priority in the immediate future.

OBJECTIVE 5 Know the partners / key players in the local housing supply chain and understand the strengths and challenges within the chain.

OBJECTIVE 6 Explore different models for municipal involvement in the creation and/or management of non-market housing, including a municipal housing authority.

OBJECTIVE 7 Determine the city’s best option(s) to effectively target priority housing types and community housing goals, including related fiscal impacts, given the resources and tools available to the city (includes consideration of a housing authority).

What is Non-Market Housing? Non-market housing covers housing along the housing spectrum, ranging from supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness to affordable rental housing and affordable home ownership (BC Housing definition).

Who Will Be Engaged During This Project?

The following key engagement groups who are involved in the local housing supply chain will be engaged in this project:

• Local Non-Profit Housing Organizations
• Community Organizations
• Financiers
• Developers
• Builders
• Property Managers

What Will Be The Outcomes of This Project?

There will be several project outcomes achieved throughout the duration of this project:

• Local Housing Context & City Housing Solutions Toolkit Summary Document - This document will provide an overview of the local housing context and city efforts to improve housing supply to date.
• Council Non-Market and Employee Housing Tour - Council will be taken on a tour of existing and in-stream non-market and employee housing within the community to help inform their housing goals and priorities. * this item was moved up in the project timeline to avoid snowy conditions
• Council Housing Goals & Priorities Workshop - This workshop is intended to result in formalized City of Revelstoke Housing goals & priorities.
• Local Housing Supply Chain Engagement Summary Document - This document will summarize the engagement process, the key players actively involved in the local housing supply chain, their area of expertise, housing goals, opportunities, challenges, and bottlenecks, as well as existing and potential partnerships.
• Municipal Housing Solutions Comparative Analysis - This document will detail various approaches being executed by municipalities proactively engaged in achieving their non-market housing goals. This will allow the city to see where they stand with measures that have been enacted and opportunities for new and improved measures.
• Feasibility Study - This study will consider all project outcomes to date and identify the best option(s) for the city to effectively target municipal resources to prompt the development of the type of non-market housing Council has identified as a priority. This will include consideration of a Housing Authority as an effective option for Revelstoke. These options will be presented to council for further consideration of next steps.

How Can the Public Stay Informed?

Check back to this project page for regular updates and the addition of published project outcomes. You can also sign up for the City's 'City Views Newsletter' (register here) and social media sites where project updates will be posted.

You can also send any questions to housingproject@revelstoke.ca As questions come in we will be posting questions and answers on this project page. No personal information will be included in the questions and answers posted to this project page.