Kelowna requires 44,571 housing units by 2041 to meet expected demand, city councillors heard on Monday (Nov. 25). 

Provincial statistics project that Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 population could reach more than 232,000 people by 2041. The housing numbers come from a staff presentation to council on Monday (Nov. 25) on the Interim Housing Needs Assessment (IHNA), prepared to meet provincial requirements. In September 2023, Kelowna endorsed its Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) to address housing challenges. The 2024 Official Community Plan (OCP) estimated housing needs at 25,300 units. 

乌鸦传媒淭he one thing our current OCP didn乌鸦传媒檛 take into account is those units for those unmet needs,乌鸦传媒� Tracy Guidi, city planner, told council at its Monday (Nov. 25) meeting. 乌鸦传媒淪o those people that are currently unhoused, people who are sleeping on couches, young adults that still haven乌鸦传媒檛 had the opportunity to move out from their parent乌鸦传媒檚 houses.乌鸦传媒�  

Guidi added the unmet need totals approximately 8,000 units. New changes to the Local Government Act require municipalities to complete Interim Housing Needs Reports (HNRs) by Jan. 1, 2025. These reports must use a standardized method for calculating housing needs over five and 20-year periods.

The Interim HNR aligns closely with the findings of Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 2023 HNA but expands the timeline. For example, the 2023 HNA focused on a 10-year horizon; the Interim HNR calculates housing needs over five,10 and 20 years. The HNR must also include a statement on the importance of housing near transit, walking, and cycling infrastructure, and a summary of steps taken by the city to reduce housing needs since the last report.

The report fulfills provincial reporting rules while updating the city乌鸦传媒檚 understanding of housing demand. Kelowna will update housing projections every five years, as required by the province. In 2025, city staff will return to council to report on housing units added in 2024.