Southern Gulf Islands Housing Strategy

Extracted text (beginning)

Southern Gulf Islands
Housing Strategy

The CRD conducts its business within the traditional territories of over 20 
First Nations, including Songhees, xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt), W
̱
JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), 
BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), SȾÁUTW
̱
 (Tsawout), W
̱
SIKEM (Tseycum), MÁLEXEȽ 
(Malahat), Sc’ianew (Beecher Bay), T’Sou-ke, Pacheedaht and Pune’laxutth’ 
(Penelekut). All of whom have a long standing relationship with the land and 
waters from time immemorial that continues to this day.
Cover photo by Stasia Garraway courtesy of Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership

Table of Contents
Executive Summary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Southern Gulf Islands Housing Strategy...2
First Nations........................5
Housing in the Southern Gulf Islands.....6
Roles and Responsibilities............13
CRD Housing Goals..................15
Southern Gulf Island Housing Goals.....15
Housing Objectives .................16
Summary and Next Steps ............22
Appendix 1: Roles and Responsibilities..25
Appendix 2: Background Reports.......30

Photo by Partners & Hawes courtesy of Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership

 Southern Gulf Islands Housing Strategy             1
The Southern Gulf Islands (SGI) is within the 
traditional territory of the Coast and Straits 
Salish peoples and is an Electoral Area of the 
Capital Regional District (CRD). It is also part of 
the Islands Trust Area, and land use planning 
is governed by the Islands Trust Local Trust 
Committees under the Islands Trust Act, which 
mandates preservation and protection of the 
environment and the unique amenities of the 
area.  
The predominant land use on the islands is 
residential and the majority of the land is 
privately owned. Housing in the islands exists 
within the context of a rural settlement pattern 
of large lots, single family homes, cottages, and 
secondary suites.
Household incomes lag behind CRD and 
provincial averages, and the most substantial 
difference is in income for families with 
children, where the SGI median incomes are 
much lower than the CRD and BC averages. 
Housing challenges on the islands impact 
other aspects of community life such as 
school enrollment, volunteerism, stability 
for employees, and year-round viability for 
business. 
This Housing Strategy was prepared at the 
request of the Southern Gulf Islands Community 
Economic Sustainability Commission (SGICESC) 
which has identified the need for affordable 
housing as a key factor influencing the 
economic and social sustainability of the islands. 
The basis of the recommendations in this 
strategy reflect the information learned through 
conducting the 2018 CRD Housing Needs 
Assessment and on many years of community 
input and engagement learned through land 
use planning processes.
Further community engagement is 
recommended to strengthen the directions of 
this strategy, ensure that the recommendations 
are current, and support an understanding of 
the partnerships required for implementation. 
A m

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