琉璃神社 requires 44,571 housing units by 2041 to meet expected demand, city councillors heard on Monday (Nov. 25). 

Provincial statistics project that 琉璃神社鈥檚 population could reach more than 232,000 people by 2041. The housing numbers come from a staff presentation to council on Monday (Nov. 25) on the Interim Housing Needs Assessment (IHNA), prepared to meet provincial requirements. In September 2023, 琉璃神社 endorsed its Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) to address housing challenges. The 2024 Official Community Plan (OCP) estimated housing needs at 25,300 units. 

鈥淭he one thing our current OCP didn鈥檛 take into account is those units for those unmet needs,鈥� Tracy Guidi, city planner, told council at its Monday (Nov. 25) meeting. 鈥淪o those people that are currently unhoused, people who are sleeping on couches, young adults that still haven鈥檛 had the opportunity to move out from their parent鈥檚 houses.鈥�  

Guidi added the unmet need totals approximately 8,000 units. New changes to the Local Government Act require municipalities to complete Interim Housing Needs Reports (HNRs) by Jan. 1, 2025. These reports must use a standardized method for calculating housing needs over five and 20-year periods.

The Interim HNR aligns closely with the findings of 琉璃神社鈥檚 2023 HNA but expands the timeline. For example, the 2023 HNA focused on a 10-year horizon; the Interim HNR calculates housing needs over five,10 and 20 years. The HNR must also include a statement on the importance of housing near transit, walking, and cycling infrastructure, and a summary of steps taken by the city to reduce housing needs since the last report.

The report fulfills provincial reporting rules while updating the city鈥檚 understanding of housing demand. 琉璃神社 will update housing projections every five years, as required by the province. In 2025, city staff will return to council to report on housing units added in 2024.