This section examines population and rental housing market trends, core need and rent-to-income ratios as various ways of assessing potential demand for social housing. None of the. methods provide a conclusive figure as to how many units of social housing should be provided. The figures, however, do indicate that there are gignificant numbers of households in Port Coquitlam that are below core need income thresholds. There are also many households paying over 30% of their income on shelter, although some may choose to over-consume housing. With virtually no new rental. housing being built by the private market in the past few years, there is pressure on existing rental units and on government to provide public housing for families. , The expected increase in the number of seniors indicates that housing and services for seniors will continue to be in demand. Other types of housing, such as. intermediate care facilities, may also be in demand as the population of seniors increases. _ The demand for group homes is expected to increase proprotionately with the population, but not at a significantly higher rate than in the paat. 3.2 Por With the opening of new lands designated for residential development and redevelopment of older, single-family areas into multi-family, Port. Coquitiam's population is expected to increase significantly. From a current population of approximately 38,000, it is expected that the number of. residents will rise to 43,000 by 1996 and 47,000 by 2001. Population projections further indicate that the number of persons aged 65 and older could almost double by 2001. | . Population projections, however, do not solely measure demand for social housing. Other factors such as the rental housing market and numbers of low-income households that may require such housing also need to be examined in this context. . In a 1990 study entitled Re mmendations for an Afsordable Re al Housing Strategy, completed by Clayton Research Associates Ltd. for the Greater Vancouver Regional District, it was estimated that Port Coquitlam has approximately 2,145 occupied rental units. Since 1986, there have been 170 rental units added in Port Coquitlam. A further 83 units for both seniors and families have recently been approved for construction. All of the recently ided or approved rental units that can accommodate families are government-sucsidized public housing. For a number of years, private sector developera have chosen to build condominiums rather Chan rental buildings in Port Coquitlam and most Lower Mainland municipalities. As a result, there has been almost total rel} ublic funding for rental housing. _ ITEM | PAGE