Port Moody to work with provincial government on five-year housing target

The Government of B.C. has released a five-year housing target for Port Moody. By September 2028, the City is expected to complete at least 75 per cent of the Province’s estimated total number of units required to address housing needs. That means the City will work toward completing a minimum 1,694 units. 

The Province has also provided the City with interim guidance on the breakdown of the target by unit type. The unit breakdown is currently not required but can be included as supplemental information when providing progress reports to the provincial government. 

“The B.C. government’s goals align with our vision for action on housing,” says Mayor Meghan Lahti. “As outlined in our Council Strategic Plan, we are committed to prioritizing transit-oriented development and diverse and equitable housing options in Port Moody, so we welcome this opportunity to work with the Province on a five-year housing target. We want to ensure that current and future residents of Port Moody will live in a community that is safe, connected, vibrant, and affordable.” 

Under the B.C. Housing Supply Act, passed in November 2022, the Province has the authority to set housing targets in municipalities, starting with those with the greatest need and highest projected growth. On May 31, 2023, the Province announced the first cohort of municipalities for housing targets had been selected, with the City of Port Moody included in a list of 10. 

In 2022, Council endorsed Port Moody’s Housing Action Plan 2022 to 2032. The Housing Action Plan addresses the housing gaps and needs identified in the City’s Housing Needs Report, completed in 2021. 

“We have a Housing Action Plan in place, which provides a clear framework for prioritizing and implementing actions, as well as monitoring and evaluating progress over the next 10 years,” says Mayor Lahti. “Our Plan will help us meet the goals we have set as a community, and the target set by the Province. Port Moody’s Housing Action Plan focuses not just on total units but also on maintaining a diverse mix of family-friendly housing. The City will take the Province’s guidelines into consideration as we work to find the right housing balance. 

“It’s important to add,” continues Lahti, “that while we continue to do all we can to take action on housing, we need all levels of government to do their part. Municipalities need policies in place and funding from other levels of government to help with building supportive housing and addressing the shortage of skilled labour and building supplies.” 

Visit portmoody.ca to learn more about the City’s Housing Action Plan and Housing Needs Report.