Between inflation and limited affordable housing in Airdrie, residents are being forced to leave the community to access housing services elsewhere. City of Airdrie officials are asking residents for help in supporting affordable housing initiatives, so low-income earners can stay in the community.
“Housing costs have spiked, rents have risen exponentially, costs of living have risen exponentially and, as those costs have risen, our wages remain stagnant. So, everything is getting much more expensive and nobody’s making any more money,” says Jessica DeVreeze, housing policy strategist with the City. “More and more people are experiencing extreme housing instability, and they are getting in more untenable situations — making trade-offs just to keep a roof over their heads, and those trade-offs include skipping meals, not paying for medicine, not having adequate daycare.”
Airdrie Housing Limited, a municipal subsidiary, is working on several projects in Airdrie to provide housing to residents with low income who can’t afford housing on the market. Some affordable housing options are also available through Rocky View Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.
“We know that there will never be enough below-market affordable housing. We need it, it’s essential, we don’t have enough of it and it’s really hard to achieve, so we work away all the time on trying to increase the amount,” says DeVreeze. “We’re the boots on the ground, we’re the ones that say how housing gets built, what type of housing and where, and what the process is for getting that built.”
The City is working on increasing affordable housing through rental opportunities, such as secondary suites and apartments. According to DeVreeze, the vacancy rate in Airdrie is almost zero per cent, and the City’s 2024 housing needs assessment shows single parents with children, seniors, people with disabilities and young single people are the most in need of affordable housing.
“There is a huge increase in need that we’ve seen as inflation has risen,” she says. “People are having to make really, really hard choices and it’s not getting better; it’s getting worse. It’s really important for our community members to recognize that affordable housing is an essential part of achieving a complete and thriving community.”
DeVreeze says the housing need in Airdrie might not be as visible as it is in other communities because those in Airdrie often go to Calgary to access services.
The City is working on a secondary suites bylaw to expand access to them and will be asking council to consider more flexible zoning. Airdrie residents are invited to write to elected officials or participate in public hearings at council meetings.
“Supporting the City’s affordable housing initiatives reaches far beyond providing all residents with a place to live,” says Kevin Weinberger, director of Community Safety and Social Services. “Wages for essential, supportive jobs like those in health care, education and the service industry often fail to keep pace with the rapid rise in housing costs. By creating an environment that prioritizes diverse housing options, we ensure that the people working in these critical roles can afford to live in the communities they serve.”
