The City has published its latest Housing Needs Report. A housing needs report identifies existing and projected gaps in housing and identifies future housing needs across the housing spectrum.
The purpose of a Housing Needs Report is to help local governments understand what types of housing are most needed in their communities and to help inform local plans, policies, and development decisions. The 2024 Housing Needs Report is an update to the previous report completed in 2020.
Recent provincial legislation to support increased housing density and supply across the province requires local governments to update their Housing Needs Reports. Deadlines include publishing an Interim Housing Needs Report by January 1, 2025, and a regular Housing Needs Report by the end of 2028.
The 2024 Kamloops Housing Needs Report goes beyond the minimum legislative requirements, as it includes content for both the interim and regular reports. It also contains updated background data on population growth, demographics, economy, and housing development in Kamloops.
Key Highlights of the 2024 Housing Needs Report:
Population Growth
Statistics Canada Census data shows that Kamloops’ population has been increasing by approximately 1.5% per year. According to BC Stats, the population was 101,350 in 2021 and is estimated to be 107,941 in 2024. Over the next 20 years (to 2044), Kamloops' population is anticipated to reach 140,281 residents (BC Stats).
Kamloops’ 5- and 20-Year Housing Needs
The Province’s Housing Needs Report Method projects the 5- and 20-year housing need from the latest census (2021) rather than the current year. Based on the Province’s Housing Needs Report Method, to meet the current and anticipated housing need, it is estimated that 7,856 total new units are required over five years (between 2021 and 2026) and 23,228 new units are required over 20 years (by 2041). These figures include the number of units needed to address population growth, reach a healthy vacancy rate, address suppressed household formation (households that cannot form due to affordability reasons), and address housing for residents experiencing homelessness.
Seven Key Areas of Local Need
Housing needs are interconnected and multifaceted, highlighting the community's complex nature of housing challenges. A summary of seven key areas of local housing need identified by the Province (affordable housing, rental housing, special needs, seniors housing, family housing, housing in proximity to alternative transportation modes, and shelters and housing for people at risk of homelessness) are included in the Housing Needs Report.
Visit LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/HousingNeeds for more information on the project background and community engagement.
Visit Kamloops.ca/Housing to find the 2024 Housing Needs Report.
Next Steps
Local governments must update their Official Community Plans and Zoning Bylaws by December 31, 2025, to accommodate the number of units identified and to align housing policies with the Housing Needs Report. The 2024 Housing Needs Report will inform an Official Community Plan (KAMPLAN) update in 2025. The City's Zoning Bylaw may also be updated in 2025 if required.
