Research Briefs on Housing Need in Calgary were initially produced in 2004. New information from the 2006 Canada census was provided by Statistics Canada in 2008, which has enabled The City of Calgary to update its existing Research Briefs and to add some new ones. The findings will remain static for five years and will become obsolete at the end of 2012.
The City's Research Briefs provide detailed statistical data on housing affordability (cost), housing adequacy (the need for major repairs) and housing suitability (a measure of crowding). in Calgary for three "low-income target groups" identified by Council as renter or owner households that are in need of affordable housing. All of these households would benefit from affordable housing because they have low income and they spend 30 per cent or more of their gross annual household income on shelter costs. Some of these households also live in dwellings that are in need of major repairs or may live in overcrowded conditions.
Research findings are presented for all low-income households in Calgary with a gross annual household income of less than $44,000 that are spending 30 per cent or more of gross household income on shelter. They are also provided and for three subpopulations:
- Households with an aboriginal primary household maintainer (head of household).
- Households with the presence of disability in the household (mobility impairment).
- Households with a recent immigrant primary household maintainer (head of household).
Additional reports provide a breakdown on housing affordability needs among low-income households who are overspending on shelter by the age and sex of the primary household maintainer (head of household).
Introductory Briefs
RB-01 introduces the series of research reports on housing need and explains how to find the latest version of the briefs on The City of Calgary website. An annotated list of available Research Briefs is also provided.
RB-02 places the issue of housing need in context. It presents key facts and definitions used by The City of Calgary in its affordable housing research and planning activities. It describes the types of shelter that are included in The City's affordable housing continuum; defines housing affordability, adequacy and suitability; and explains the meaning of core housing need. It also defines other common terms related to housing.
Research Briefs on Housing Affordability
RB-03 focuses on all low-income households in Calgary that are overspending on shelter. This is the Research Brief that is most relevant to a majority of Calgarians concerned with affordable housing.
RB-04 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with an Aboriginal Primary Household Maintainer (head of household) that are overspending on shelter.
RB-05 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with the Presence of Disability in the Household (among one or more household members) that are overspending on shelter.
New for 2006, RB-19 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with a Recent Immigrant Primary Household Maintainer (head of household who immigrated between January 1, 2001 and May 16, 2006) that are overspending on shelter.
Research Briefs on Housing Adequacy
RB-06 focuses on all low-income households in Calgary that are overspending on shelter and living in housing which is in need of major repair.
RB-07 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with an Aboriginal Primary Household Maintainer (head of household) that are overspending on shelter and living in housing which is in need of major repair.
RB-08 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with the Presence of Disability in the Household (among one or more household members) that are overspending on shelter and living in housing which is in need of major repair.
New for 2006, RB-20 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with a Recent Immigrant Primary Household Maintainer (head of household who immigrated between January 1, 2001 and May 16, 2006) that are overspending on shelter and living in housing which is in need of major repair.
Research Briefs on Housing Suitability
RB-09 provides housing suitability index values to indicate the prevalence of crowding among all low-income households in Calgary that are overspending on shelter.
RB-10 provides housing suitability index values to indicate the prevalence of crowding among only those low-income households in Calgary with an Aboriginal Primary Household Maintainer (head of household) that are overspending on shelter.
RB-11 provides housing suitability index values to indicate the prevalence of crowding among only those low-income households in Calgary with the Presence of Disability in the Household (among one or more household members) that are overspending on shelter.
New for 2006, RB-21 provides housing suitability index values to indicate the prevalence of crowding among only those low-income households in Calgary with a Recent Immigrant Primary Household Maintainer (head of household who immigrated between January 1, 2001 and May 16, 2006) that are overspending on shelter.
Research Briefs on Housing Affordability, by Age
RB-12 focuses on all low-income households in Calgary that are overspending on shelter, by examining the age of the Primary Household Maintainer (head of household).
RB-13 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with an Aboriginal Primary Household Maintainer (head of household) that are overspending on shelter, by examining the age of the Primary Household Maintainer.
RB-14 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with the Presence of Disability in the Household (among one or more household members) that are overspending on shelter, by examining the age of the Primary Household Maintainer (head of household).
New for 2006, RB-22 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with a Recent Immigrant Primary Household Maintainer (head of household who immigrated between January 1, 2001 and May 16, 2006) that are overspending on shelter, by examining the age of the Primary Household Maintainer.
Research Briefs on Housing Affordability, by Sex
RB-15 focuses on all low-income households in Calgary that are overspending on shelter, by examining the sex of the Primary Household Maintainer (head of household).
RB-16 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with an Aboriginal Primary Household Maintainer (head of household) that are overspending on shelter, by examining the sex of the Primary Household Maintainer.
RB-17 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with the Presence of Disability in the Household (among one or more household members) that are overspending on shelter, by examining the sex of the Primary Household Maintainer (head of household).
New for 2006, RB-23 focuses on only those low-income households in Calgary with a Recent Immigrant Primary Household Maintainer (head of household who immigrated between January 1, 2001 and May 16, 2006) that are overspending on shelter, by examining the sex of the Primary Household Maintainer.
Housing Needs in Calgary over Time
RB-18 uses data from the 1991, 1996, and 2001 Canada census cycles to compare the number of households that were in need of affordable housing in each census cycle. All of these households had less than 65% of median household income (adjusted for each cycle) and were spending 30% or more of their gross household income on shelter. RB-18 is a large report that is organized into three parts: (A) housing affordability, (B) housing adequacy, and (C) housing suitability.
RB-24 uses data from the 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2006 Canada census cycles to compare the number of households that were in need of affordable housing during each census cycle. All of these households had less than 65% of median household income (adjusted for each cycle) and were spending 30% or more of their gross household income on shelter. RB-24 presents summary information on housing affordability, housing adequacy, and housing suitability.
