Vancouver seniors housing strategy
Happy Cities conducted community engagement for the City of Vancouver’s Seniors Housing Strategy, to help the City better meet the housing needs of seniors and older adults.
Meeting the housing needs of Vancouver’s aging population
Seniors are the fastest growing age demographic in Vancouver. The City of Vancouver is developing a Seniors Housing Strategy to better understand and meet the housing needs of seniors, Elders, and adults aged 55+ in Vancouver. To hear input from the community, the City contracted Happy Cities to engage adults 55+ and seniors-serving organizations in Vancouver.
We helped the City reach over 1,400 people through surveys, pop-up and community outreach events, and focus group discussions with seniors-serving organizations. Following the engagement, we delivered a comprehensive report to capture what we heard. In the report, we identify key directions that the City can explore, including ideas to:
Increase the supply of affordable and supportive housing for adults 55+
Streamline and improve access to housing and support services
Improve housing design standards for aging in place
Prioritize impact and accountability in housing policy
Invest in advocacy and partnerships
Build complete neighbourhoods
People at a pop-up event share their priorities and needs for seniors housing in Vancouver.
Focus group discussion to to hear community input on the Seniors Housing Strategy.
Aging in the right place
We heard consistently that the majority of people want to stay in their current home for as long as possible. When people are able to grow old in the communities that they call home, they can maintain closer connections to their family, friends, and neighbours, fostering healthy social ties, a community support network, and overall wellbeing. Staying in one’s current neighbourhood is particularly important for seniors in communities such as Chinatown, who have strong cultural and social connections to activities, shops, and public spaces in their neighbourhood.
A crucial challenge is that many people feel that their current home is not equipped to support aging in place, due to accessibility, health, affordability, and other challenges. Affordability is a major challenge for seniors in particular, as many live on fixed incomes. People’s needs can also change quickly as they age, making it essential to provide a wide range of adaptable and accessible homes that meet people’s diverse health and wellbeing needs.
Snapshot of what we heard
The majority of seniors are satisfied with their current housing situation. However, those who are living in unaffordable or inadequate conditions need immediate action and support. Low-income renters are most vulnerable, and often struggle to navigate the housing system, placing them at risk of homelessness.
Affordability is the top housing challenge for adults 55+ in Vancouver, with 97% in support of adding more social and supportive housing options for seniors.
Seniors in Vancouver are a diverse group with different needs, preferences, cultures, life experiences, abilities, and ages. Factors including racism and ageism make it difficult for some seniors to access appropriate housing.
Most people want to age in place in their current home, but not everyone can access the supports and home upgrades they need to do so. Notably, 16% of people 55+ have not yet considered their future housing options.
Universal design in new housing is crucial.
At-home care and support services are highly popular: Around two thirds of adults 55+ would consider in-home support services. However, existing services need more funding and staff to meet the growing demand.
Walkable neighbourhoods are key to supporting wellbeing, social connection, and independence for older adults.
To read the full report, please visit the City of Vancouver’s Shape Your City page.
