Mr. Wright Gets It Wrong
This is a response to Ronald Wright’s post on the Salt Spring Exchange here
My response was posted on the Exchange here
We need to get real about the challenges facing our community. Ronald Wright's recent piece on the exchange falsely accuses me of exaggerating our housing "problems" and suggests that census data indicating 1/3rd of Salt Spring residents are experiencing some sort of housing need is incorrect
Ron seems to believe that since only 18.5% of Salt Springers rent, it's impossible for more than that to be in housing need. This unfortunately out of touch ivory tower thinking is a huge problem on our island. If we cannot, or worse, will not, accurately face the crisis on our island, we will never solve it.
Let's discuss housing need. The number, 1/3rd of Salt Springers, comes from the census. However, I first learned about it from the Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership's Short-Term Rentals Impact Report.
As of the 2021 census 1,695 households, both rental and ownership, were experiencing one or a combination of the three types of housing need. That is 33% of Salt Spring households, or 1/3rd. This represents an estimated 3,729 people. An astounding number.
The SGITP adds in an analysis I find equal parts interesting and accurate. The census differentiates between housing need - folks living in housing need but could afford other options, and core housing need - folks who are living in housing need and cannot afford anything else. The SGITP points out that there is so little available housing on Salt Spring that the difference between core housing need and housing need is moot. If you have housing that doesn't work you're stuck without any alternatives.
SGITP recommends "interpreting the available data as suggesting that there is
something closer to ~1,695 households currently living in unaffordable, unsuitable,
and/or inadequate housing, and for whom there is currently no realistic alternative
(until rental vacancy rates improve)."
We don't have a "problem", we have a crisis. A crisis that affects renters, home owners, seniors, workers, and all the folks who rely on workers.
So yes, I claim there is a crisis, I claim 1/3rd of Salt Springers are in housing need, I claim the Trust is operating from outdated policies, and I claim Mr. Wright got it wrong! That's exactly why you should be voting for me on October 17th! I'm ready to name the problems in our community and actually get to work.
My platform is straightforward:
- An Islands Trust that works for us, not against us
- Not just housing but homes for our workers
- Environmental protection of our islands
- Ensuring our farmers can grow and thrive.
All that while governing with integrity. That’s what I offer Salt Spring Island if you choose to elect me your next Trustee.
So get out and vote for me and one other person for Salt Spring Island Trustee. October 17th from 8am-8pm at the Legion, the Library, or Fulford Hall.