Overview
In 2020, the City of Merritt partnered with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and M’akola Development Services to study housing needs in the community, and to develop a Housing Needs Report. As per Section 585 of the Local Government Act, the adoption of a Housing Needs Report is mandatory. Municipalities must also update the report at least every 5 years after the adoption of the first report.
On February 23, 2021, Council resolved to receive the report. To view the Housing Needs Report, click the link below.
Community Engagement
A Community Forum is planned in future on the topic of housing needs in Merritt. Due to COVID-19, the date is not yet known. Please check back here for updates.
In the Fall of 2020, a survey was published to gather feedback from residents on housing challenges and experiences with the housing market in Merritt. Community organizations were also consulted for additional feedback on housing needs. The information collected was incorporated into the report, including direct quotes from Merrittonians. A selection of those quotes is listed below.
- “There is a massive need for a seniors care home, rental units, affordable living housing. There is almost nothing available. Zero rentals for years. Less than 20 houses for sale currently. We need more options.”
- “The prices of homes in Merritt have gone way up so has rent very hard for a single person or senior.”
- “Lack of suitable rentals is a consistent drag on the economy, unable to attract mid-wage residents. Houses are cheaper in environmentally nicer places, Merritt can’t thrive just by being close to Vancouver’.”
- “More apartments need to be built, somewhere probably in the ballpark of at least 200 units. Most of the time apartment units are bought then rented out, apartments being much cheaper than a single-family dwelling will alleviate some of the low-income housing concerns.”
- “Finding an affordable house in Merritt is getting harder and harder. I know of several young adults (20s) that can’t find a decent house even though they are both working”
- “Build more affordable housing so our children can afford to move out.”
- “The people of this town continue to cry out for low-income housing, they wish that every new housing project be low income. This town has a very high percentage of renters and people who make minimum wage causing a need for low-income housing as the rental market is in such ludicrously high demand and the odds of getting a rental unit are very slim.”
- “We need more affordable low-income housing that is designated for low-income rentals, not just suites that people rent periodically that can get sold out from under renters.”
Documents
CONTACT
Planning & Development Services
planning@merritt.ca