The City of Grande Prairie is conducting a Housing Needs Survey to get a better understanding of what types of housing-related supports are relevant to Grande Prairie.

The needs assessment is part of the first phase of development for the Affordable Housing Strategy. The new plan will be similar to the Affordable Housing Master Plan 2011 – 2021, but will be an updated vision for affordable housing in the community based on more current information. It will outline what role the City will play in providing housing supports and what initiatives it will take on. The target completion date for the strategy is fall 2019.

The survey asks about residents’ current housing, their preferences, how housing costs affect them, as well as some demographic information. City administration will use the information to determine what segments of the population are most in need of housing supports and what types of supports are needed. 

The survey is 24 questions and takes 5 to 10 minutes to complete. It will run from Tuesday, February 19 to Friday, March 8.. It can be completed online here: engage.cityofgp.com/affordable-housing.

About Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing is a broad term defined as housing that costs less than 30% of a household’s before tax income.  Affordable Housing is about whether a household is able to meet its housing needs while still being able to afford other essentials, but it is not just about cost. It also includes whether a dwelling has enough room for the people living in it, and what condition it is in.

The Core Housing Need, created by Statistics Canada and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is used to measure housing. It considers three factors:

  1. Affordability: Is the cost of housing less than 30% of household income OR could the household afford a market rental that meets the other two factors without spending more than 30% of their income;
  2. Adequacy: Does the dwelling require any major repairs; and
  3. Suitability: Are there enough bedrooms for the people living there

For more information on Affordable Housing in Grande Prairie, visit: cityofgp.com/affordablehousing. 

Information provided by the City of Grande Prairie.