Evolution of Housing Programs: A Historic Perspective on the City of Victoria

1. History of Housing Programs City of Victoria Linda Allen, RPP, FCIP | 30 January 2014

2. Tonight … • Federal Government • Evolution to Devolution • Provincial Government • Partners, Enablers with Limited $ • Regional Context • Proactive … Housing Trust Fund, CRHC • Municipal Context • Enabled by Legislation … but few $ attached

3. Federal Context … 1940s • Wartime Housing Limited = 46,000 dwellings in 9 years • Rent Controls • National Housing Act, 1944– a declaration of social responsibility • CentralMortgage and Housing Corporation Act, 1945 • Veterans Rental Housing Program = 30,000 units • Beginnings of “urban renewal”, “slum clearance”

4. Federal Government … 1950 – 1964 • Substantial and powerful Federal role • Focus on home ownership– mortgage $ and terms • Transformed from a nation of tenants to a nation of owners • Hugely significant cultural shift • Less than 5% of annual starts were social housing • Metro Torontostepped up

5. Federal Context … 1964 – 1992 • Sweepingchanges in NHA … in come the provinces • Loans to non-profit corporations • Urban renewal • Federal-Provincial partnerships • Turning point in Canada’s housing history • Involved the PGs • Great period of inter-governmental relations around a common cause!

6. Federal-Provincial Context … 1964 – 1992 • Many (GREAT) Programs for low-income Canadians • AHOP • NIP • RRAP • NPH and Coops • CRISP • Land Assembly Assistance • New Communities • Rural and Native

7. But … Graph Tells The Story

8. BC Context: Proactive + Supply Side • 1992 Federal Budget … no new social housing • BC Government reacted by being proactive • Ramped up BC Housing as vehicle for non-market housing • Commission on Housing Options – 1992 • Legislative Changes – Local Government as partner – 1993

9. BC Context: Supply Side • Continuing $$ to BC Housing • Several new programs – ILBC, PHI, CPI, OL – but small #s

10. Demand Side Measures • Federal • Home Buyers Plan | RRSP • 1st Time Home Buyers Tax Credit • RRAP – HO • RRAP – D • RRAP – LL • British Columbia • Rent Supplements • SAFER • RAP for families • 1st Time Home BuyersPTT Exemption • Property Tax DeferralsSeniors, Families w. kids • Housing Endowment Fund

11. Regional Context (1) • Capital Region Housing Corporation • 30 years of building and managing new supply • Families, seniors, people with disabilities • Aging stock; regeneration opportunities

12. Regional Context (2) • Policy and Plans • CRD Affordable Housing Strategy – 2008 • Langford’s inclusionary housing program • 2014 RSS • Housing Action Plans • Research & Advocacy • City of Victoria – OCP policies, rental housing analysis

13. Local Government Tools • Policy Tools • OCP + RSS + AHS • Regulatory Tools • Zoning • Amenity Zoning / Housing Agreements • Variances • Std. of Maintenance • Financial Tools • Reserve Fund • Land Banking • Taxes and Fees • Partnerships • Housing providers, developers, BCH, VIHA • Education, Advocacy and Capacity Building

14. Where we’re at … • Very little new money for increased supply • Governments highly reliant on demand-side measures • Local governments expected to come to the table • Capital Region municipalities • CRHC Trust Fund • Creative partnerships essential – each different