Affordable Housing Strategy

Harmony Flex HousingIn October 2010 Council endorsed the development of an Affordable Housing Strategy (the Strategy) as described in staff Report EDP211-2010. The Strategy was developed in phases through consultation with community stakeholders, City Committees, current affordable housing residents, and the public. The City’s Abbotsford Social Development Advisory Committee (ASDAC) was the project steering committee and guided the Strategy development process. 

Phase 4 | Final Strategy

The City held an open house on September 20, 2011 at the Sandman Inn. The public was invited to browse display boards and City staff gave a presentation describing the draft Strategy development process and policies. The draft Strategy was also sent to key community stakeholders for review and staff presented it to ASDAC for final comments. 

The final Strategy was approved by Council on November 7, 2011 and can be viewed here. The appendices can be viewed here. City staff will present the Strategy at upcoming community meetings and provide regular updates to Council on progress to make housing more affordable in Abbotsford.   

Phase 3 | Draft Strategy   
  • City staff reviewed the policy options using four criteria: public priority, effectiveness, simplicity, and City role
  • The top policies were compiled into an implementation plan, and action steps, partners, resource requirements and a timeline were added
  • The implementation plan was reviewed by ASDAC
  • Staff completed a draft of the Strategy and appendices, and presented it to Council in August

Phase 2 | Consultations 

Spring 2011 Public Open Houses 

The City hosted public open houses on March 29, 2011 at Abbotsford Recreation Centre and April 7, 2011 at Matsqui Recreation Centre. The public was invited to browse display boards with background information about housing affordability in Abbotsford. Then the overview display boards provided an overview of the Strategy, the development process, and instructions for the open house. The proposed strategies and policy options display boards, listed the five strategies in providing affordable housing, and policy options for each strategy. Each person received 10 stickers to choose the policy options they thought best supported each strategy. Each person could also indicate whether it should be a low, medium, or high priority using the stickers provided. Additional comments were added in the ‘Other Comments’ section of each board.

 Phase 1 | Policy Development  

  • Research to create the data 'story' about housing affordability in Abbotsford and brainstorm with ASDAC to develop a proposed vision and objectives described below

          Proposed Vision

All residents of Abbotsford live in safe, stable, appropriate housing that is affordable for their income level

Proposed Objectives  

  1. Preserve existing affordable housing
  2. Increase the supply of affordable housing
  3. Improve people’s ability to afford housing
  4. Create complete, connected, and livable neighbourhoods with diverse housing types and tenure
  5. Pursue senior government, the development industry, and community agencies for partnerships
  • Identify policy options for each objective at a stakeholder forum on December 8, 2010 with over 60 people, including ASDAC members 

For more information about the Affordable Housing Strategy contact Reuben Koole, Social Planner at 604-557-1468 or Amy Anaka, Planner at 604-864-5614.