There's been a lot of handwringing recently as many 30-somethings and 40somethings try to squeeze themselves into an ever-more expensive housing market.
The housing market in Metro Vancouver - which includes New Westminster - may not have "corrected" itself and, indeed, may never correct itself and younger folks often feel they may never own a single-family residence like their parents did.
But if young people find that scenario depressing, consider this: if you manage to live long enough to be considered a senior, there might not even be enough social housing for you.
According to a just-released report from the United Way and the Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia the number of seniors and people with disabilities waiting to get into social housing in Metro Vancouver has jumped by nearly 50 per cent in three years.
There are now 4,549 households on social housing waiting lists in Metro Vancouver. Both Surrey and Burnaby had nearly 500 on the waiting list, while New Westminster and North Vancouver had more than 200 on the list.
Finding affordable housing as a senior on a fixed income is like winning a lottery. Many seniors are only pulling in $1,200 per month on government pensions. The report said, not surprisingly, that the highest average rents are charged in West Vancouver, at $1,247, and Vancouver, at $1,067. The lowest is Maple Ridge, at $709.
So what will housing look like when the current 30 and 40-somethings have finally paid off their Chilliwack townhomes and hope to sell them and retire in Salmon Arm? Will they be able to afford to rent a basement suite in Salmon Arm? Or will there, by that time, be attractive affordable multi-generational and multi-income level communities thriving in the Lower Mainland?
We're rooting for the latter - but, alas we suspect someone will be writing an editorial similar to this one in some virtual future iPaper instead.
