B.C. renters spending more on housing, utilities than they can afford: study

A new survey is painting a discouraging picture of how unaffordable housing has become for many in British Columbia.

A new survey is painting a discouraging picture of how unaffordable housing has become for many in British Columbia.

“We’ve let this crisis manifest over several generations,” said Jill Atkey, CEO of the B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association.

The crisis that Atkey is talking about is rising rents and utility costs, causing many to spend well beyond their means.

“We have too many renter households spending more than 30 [per cent] and, in fact, more than 50 per cent of their pre-tax income towards their housing costs,” said Atkey.

British Columbians are paying more for housing on average than anyone else in Canada.

In Greater Victoria, there are more than 67,000 households of renters. Forty per cent of those households can’t afford what they are currently paying for shelter.

“That means you’re forgoing other basic necessities,” said Atkey. “You are starting to cut back on food, you’re not putting your kids into extracurricular actives.”