The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy
Calgary needs more homes. We have a plan.
Calgary is experiencing a housing crisis. One in five Calgary households are unable to afford where they currently live. That’s 80,000 households who are spending more than 30% of their income on housing.
Low vacancy rates, higher than normal rent increases, and escalating home prices are putting Calgary’s competitive advantage as one of the world’s most livable cities at risk.
To ease the strain and support Calgary’s prosperity now and for future generations, we need more homes in all shapes and sizes in all neighbourhoods. We have a plan to do that.
The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy names specific actions we can take as a city to address the housing crisis and remove barriers to housing affordability and economic prosperity.
It includes five outcomes;
- Increase housing supply
- Support affordable housing providers
- Support The City’s housing subsidiaries
- Ensure housing choices meet the needs of equity-deserving populations
- Meet the affordable housing needs of Indigenous people living in Calgary
The strategy incorporates the 33 actions recommended by the Housing and Affordability Task Force and a handful of additional new actions in addition to 38 previously Council-approved actions for work that is already underway.
These proposed actions will increase the supply of market and non-market housing, ensuring that there is a diverse range of options in all communities so all Calgarians can find a home that meets their needs.
Calgarians have asked many questions about some of the proposed actions. There have been frequent questions about two specific actions, parking and rezoning. This document provides additional information around the parking and rezoning actions to consider.
The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy will be reviewed by members of Council at the Community Development Committee meeting on Sept 14.
People living in Calgary can hear the strategy and have their say at that meeting. Sign up in advance to participate in-person, by phone or via written submission at https://www.calgary.ca/council/meetings/public-hearing.html.
About the Housing and Affordability Task Force
The Housing and Affordability Task Force was created to address Calgary’s housing crisis and the urgent need for more housing and housing affordability in Calgary. Members included 15 diverse experts who build, study and have experience working and/or living across different levels of the housing continuum.
The Task Force began meeting in September 2022 and were asked to report back to Council with advice and policy recommendations relating to increasing, measuring, and managing housing affordability and affordable housing along the entire housing continuum.
The group leveraged their collective expertise and presented six recommendations and 33 action items that The City can implement to create a more equitable, inclusive, and affordable housing market in Calgary.
Learn more about the Task Force recommendations and actions, and their potential impacts below. You can also view our Engage page to learn more about the project.
Have your say
Public submissions and presentations will be accepted at the Committee meeting on Sept. 14, 2023. To learn more about how you can share your thoughts on these recommendations please visit: https://www.calgary.ca/council/meetings/public-hearing.html
Timeline
- June 7, 2022: Council directed the creation of the Housing and Affordability Task Force (see Notice of Motion EC2022-0638)
- May 4, 2023: The Housing and Affordability Task Force released six recommendations and 33 actions after 8 months of deliberation.
- June 6, 2023: Housing and Affordability Task Force present their recommendations to Council.
- June 7, 2023: Council direct to incorporate the Task Force recommendations and actions within the refreshed Housing Strategy, that is currently being developed.
- September 14, 2023: The new Housing Strategy, with task force recommendations incorporated, presented at the Community Development Committee meeting
Housing Needs Assessment
The latest data published in The City of Calgary’s 2023 Housing Needs Assessment shows that an increasing number of Calgarians are struggling with housing affordability.
The findings highlight the current housing crisis is affecting Calgarians looking to buy or rent a home, and those that are in greatest need of affordable housing supports.