Housing affordability relates to the ability of individual households to meet their monthly rent or mortgage payments within a reasonable threshold of their income. CMHC has determined that housing is affordable if it costs no more than 30% of a household’s before-tax monthly income for rent or mortgage payments. For example, if a family or individual is earning $24,000 per year before taxes, then their monthly before-tax income would be $2,000. For their housing to be affordable, they should be able to find a safe and suitable home to rent with enough bedrooms for the appropriate family members for no more than $600 per month. Similarly, if a family or individual is earning $36,000 per year before taxes ($3,000 per month), their housing is affordable if it is both safe and suitable and costs no more than $900 per month.

So how much of an issue is housing affordability in Elkford and Sparwood? What are some of your experiences related to unaffordable housing while living in Elkford or Sparwood?

Housing adequacy refers to the physical safety of an individual dwelling. Housing is considered inadequate if it requires major repairs and/or is lacking necessary services and basic facilities. Major repairs refer to plumbing, electrical, ventilation systems, disposal systems, and the structural components of a house that might warrant it being unsafe. Basic facilities refer to potable hot and cold running water, and full bathroom facilities including an indoor toilet and a bathtub or shower. Additionally, housing is not adequate if it is infested with vermin or black mould.

So how much of an issue are unsafe homes and homes in need of major repairs in Elkford and Sparwood? What are some of your experiences related to living in unsafe housing or housing otherwise in need of major repairs while living in Elkford or Sparwood?

Housing suitability refers to overcrowding and is determined based on the number of bedrooms within a home compared to the size of the family living in that home. National Occupancy Standards set minimum criteria for number of persons per bedroom and level of privacy for members of a household. These standards require:

1) A maximum of two persons per bedroom;
2) That the parent(s)’s bedroom be separate from that of the children(s)’s;
3) That family members over the age of 17 not share a bedroom; and
4) That family members over four years of age and of the opposite gender not share
a bedroom.

Households that are unable to meet these occupancy standards are said to be living in overcrowded or unsuitable housing conditions.

So how much of an issue is overcrowding in Elkford and Sparwood? What are some of your experiences related to overcrowding while living in Elkford or Sparwood?

Housing accessibility relates to ability of individuals with health, mobility and/or stamina limitations to easily get into and out of their home, and to move around freely while inside their home. Accessibility is particularly problematic for persons with physical disabilities including people confined to wheelchairs and people needing the use of walkers to get around their home. Those households with accessibility issues may require a number of improvements to their homes including wheelchair ramps and/or elevators; larger doors and hallways; lowered counter tops, sinks and cabinets; and reconfigured rooms including larger bathrooms and specialty bathtubs.

So how much of an issue is accessibility in Elkford and Sparwood? What are some of your experiences related to housing accessibility while living in Elkford or Sparwood?

Please Note: housing accessibility is not to be confused with “access to housing” or the number of housing choices available in the community. That is the subject of the Housing Choice discussion topic and we invite you to post your comments regarding housing choice and availability under that discussion topic.

A lack of choice in terms of access to housing (for example, limited housing options) can also pose challenges for households, especially low- and modest-income households. This can include a lack of homeownership opportunities as well as rental opportunities.

So how much of an issue is a lack of housing options to choose from in Elkford and Sparwood? What are some of your experiences related to lack of housing choice while living in Elkford or Sparwood? How do people typically respond when there is a lack of housing choice in the community?