In 2012, CitySpaces’ Williams Lake Housing Need and Demand Assessment was commissioned by the City of Williams Lake as a “third-party” comprehensive assessment of current and emerging housing needs in Williams Lake and area, and to identify gaps between housing need and housing supply. Our team updated this study in 2014, which included a high-level analysis of potential options for the former Cariboo Lodge residential care facility.
Similar to many communities in BC’s Interior, the population of Williams Lake and surrounding area is highly sensitive to changing local economic conditions in the mining and forestry sectors.
The Williams Lake Housing Need and Demand Assessment profiled current affordable housing supply, current affordable housing needs, emerging housing needs and provided a gap analysis. In addition, our CitySpaces team prepared graphically-enhanced materials to communicate housing indicator data and information, including infographics and accessible language, to communicate to a broader community audience.
Through the Williams Lake Housing Need and Demand Assessment it was determined that low-income singles (working singles and those living on fixed- incomes, including seniors), individuals with special needs, and aboriginal households of all ages face the greatest challenges in finding and maintaining housing that is affordable, adequate and suitable. For some low-income individuals, particularly those that have complex health and substance issues, finding and keeping any form of permanent housing is especially challenging. CitySpaces found through the Williams Lake Housing Need and Demand Assessment that there is also a serious lack of SRO (Single Room Occupancy) accommodation, and that typically, rents to these “hardest to house” individuals.
Williams Lake has many caring and compassionate individuals, organizations and faith-based groups, and a number of existing housing providers. The Williams Lake Housing Need and Demand Assessment ascertained that future partnerships and collaborations, together with the support of the City and BC Housing, will be required to comprehensively address current and emerging housing needs.
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