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