The Metro Vancouver region is facing serious housing challenges. Rising costs, low vacancy rates, and aging rental buildings are making it harder for people — especially those with lower incomes — to find homes they can afford. There is also a shortage of supportive and non-market housing options. To meet the region’s growing and changing needs, we need a mix of housing types and prices in all communities, close to transit, jobs, and services.
Metro Vancouver's role
Metro Vancouver plays a regional role in supporting affordable and diverse housing.
Metro 2050, the Regional Growth Strategy, identifies actions to increase the supply and variety of housing, protect renters, preserve and renew rental housing, and address the needs of lower-income households and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Key areas of work include:
- Providing data, policy guidance, and resources
- Partnering with BC Housing and member jurisdictions on standardized designs to streamline the delivery of affordable rental housing
- Advocating to federal and provincial governments on housing issues
- Assisting member jurisdictions with Housing Action Plans and Housing Needs Reports
Metro Vancouver also directly contributes to affordable housing through Metro Vancouver Housing, one of the region’s largest non-profit housing providers. Work is currently underway to update the Metro Vancouver Housing 10-Year Plan — a vision to provide, preserve, and expand our portfolio of affordable housing across the region, and develop 2,000 new units over the next 10 years.
Housing 2050
Metro Vancouver is developing Housing 2050 — an action-oriented roadmap to support diverse and affordable housing choices, including the regional target for at least 15% of new housing in transit-oriented geographies to be affordable rental units. This project is supported by robust engagement with municipalities, First Nations, other governments, and housing organizations in the region.
Rental housing blueprint
Metro Vancouver, in partnership with the province and 11 member jurisdictions, is developing a blueprint to accelerate the design and approvals of affordable rental housing.
Housing policy and data resources
Metro Vancouver compiles and analyzes housing data and policies to support informed decision-making across the region.
| Measures for Affordable and Diverse Housing Dashboard | Measures for Affordable and Diverse Housing Dashboard | <div class="ExternalClassE5678D4CBFB04A4C8ED135A6AB4DEDC4"><p>A centralized resource that tracks local government policies aimed at improving housing affordability and diversity. The dashboard draws from municipal websites, bylaws, and policy documents to support housing planning and policy development.<br></p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"></span><i class="fa-light fa-link" aria-hidden="true"></i> <a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNzAyNTMxYjQtZjA4NS00MzVlLWIzNTEtZGNhOGRjZGQ2MmEyIiwidCI6IjkwODU5OWUzLTdlZjQtNDJiNS1hYWUyLTE0ZDBhODIzNTNmMyJ9" target="_blank" title="Measures for Affordable and Diverse Housing Dashboard">Measures for Affordable and Diverse Housing Dashboard</a><br></li></ul></div> |
| The Metro Vancouver Housing Data Book | The Metro Vancouver Housing Data Book | <div class="ExternalClass0D4D38646F3F4B32834D8A0A8095C962"><p>A comprehensive overview of the region’s housing market and trends and the people it impacts, told through a large collection of regional and municipal level data.</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-link" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><a href="/services/regional-planning/housing-data-book" title="Metro Vancouver Housing Data Book">Metro Vancouver Housing Data Book</a><br></li></ul></div> |
| Housing Needs Reports | Housing Needs Reports | <div class="ExternalClassCA06E0AC8865463283B95B9578124889"><p>Metro Vancouver provides data to support local Housing Needs Reports, and has developed a Regional Housing Needs Report to provide a comprehensive view of regional housing needs, supporting coordination and advocacy.</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<i class="fa-light fa-file" aria-hidden="true"></i></span><a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/regional-housing-needs-report.pdf" title="Regional Housing Needs Report" target="_blank">Regional Housing Needs Report</a><br></li></ul></div> |
| What works — best practice policy guides | What works — best practice policy guides | <div class="ExternalClassD2F28D36770A4E40BDFC352630C9656D"><p>Metro Vancouver develops best practice research and policy guides to support housing planning and policy priorities across the region.</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/securing-affordable-and-special-needs-housing-through-housing-agreements.pdf" title="What Works: Securing Affordable and Special Needs Housing through Housing Agreements (2020)">What Works: Securing Affordable and Special Needs Housing through Housing Agreements (2020)</a><br></li>
</ul>A summary of local government practices to sustain the existing supply of purpose-built rental housing and expand the supply of new housing.<ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/local-government-sustaining-expanding-supply-purpose-built-rental-housing.pdf%3E%3Cspan%20id=%27ms-rterangeselectionplaceholder-start%27%3E%3C/span%3E" title="What Works: Local Government Measures for Sustaining and Expanding the Supply of Purpose-Built Rental Housing (2024)">What Works: Local Government Measures for Sustaining and Expanding the Supply of Purpose-Built Rental Housing (2024)</a><br></li></ul><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
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<a href="/services/regional-planning/resources-and-studies#k=what%20works%23l=1033" title="View previous resource guides">View previous resource guides</a><br></li></ul></div> |
Inclusionary housing resources
Inclusionary housing policies are a key tool for increasing the supply of affordable housing and helping communities meet their housing objectives. These policies require or encourage private developers to include affordable units in new residential developments. Metro Vancouver has studied inclusionary housing practices across the region and developed these resources to support member jurisdictions:
| Metro Vancouver Inclusionary Housing Calculator | Metro Vancouver Inclusionary Housing Calculator | <div class="ExternalClassE1FD0ACE983543A9A937D3114FABD4D8"><p>An interactive tool that helps explore the viability of inclusionary policy options.*<br></p><ul class="fa-ul"><li>
<span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i></span><a href="https://mvinclusionaryhousingcalculator.ca/ihc/" title="Metro Vancouver Inclusionary Housing Calculator">Metro Vancouver Inclusionary Housing Calculator</a></li></ul><p>*Note: The calculator is for educational purposes only. It is not a replacement for the detailed financial analysis required for actual development projects or policy design.</p></div> |
| Regional model for inclusionary housing | Regional model for inclusionary housing | <div class="ExternalClassAE3506F68E93496FA47BC067174C74AB"><p>A comprehensive review of inclusionary housing policies across the region, offering a framework to guide consistent and effective municipal policy development.</p><ul class="fa-ul"><li><span class="fa-li"><i class="fa-light fa-file"></i></span> <a href="/services/regional-planning/Documents/inclusionary-housing-policy-review-regional-model-policy-framework.pdf" title="Inclusionary Housing Policy Review and Regional Model Policy Framework (2024)">Inclusionary Housing Policy Review and Regional Model Policy Framework (2024)</a></li></ul><br></div> |
Housing and transportation cost burden study
To better understand how housing and transportation choices affect affordability, Metro Vancouver studied the combined cost burden across different areas of the region. This helps highlight how location and other factors impact household costs — and informs planning for more affordable, connected communities.