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Poor Housing Conditions

Indicator #42: Children Living in Families with Poor Housing Conditions

Indicator 42: Percentage of children living in families with unmet core housing need, as identified by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

 

Jump to Figure Notes and Sources

 

Key Messages

  • There is compelling evidence that housing conditions influence the health and well-being of children. In particular, inadequate or unsuitable housing, defined in terms of overcrowding and the presence of toxins/molds, appears to be strongly related to poor pediatric health outcomes—including negative physical and psychosocial effects. It has also been shown that poor housing conditions can increase the likelihood of injury among children.1
  • According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, core housing need is defined as housing that does not meet one of the established standards of adequacy, affordability, or suitability. This means the housing is unacceptable as determined by the following: requiring any major repairs (inadequate); costing more than 30 per cent of total before-tax household income (unaffordable); or not having enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of residents according to National Occupancy Standard requirements (unsuitable).2
  • There are limitations in data available regarding core housing need and housing conditions in BC. Analyses presented here include all people in BC with core housing need (not only those with children), but only include urban areas (defined as communities with a population of 10,000 or more). Due to the cancellation of Statistics Canada’s Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics, data are only available up to 2011.
  • As shown in Figure 42.1, the percentage of the urban population in BC with unmet core housing need increased dramatically between 2008 and 2011, and at a much faster rate than the national average.
  • Figure 42.2 shows that in 2011, the percentage of people with unmet core housing needs in BC was the highest among provinces by a substantial margin.
  • Figure 42.3 shows that within BC, in 2011, Vancouver had the highest rate of core unmet housing need among the three urban areas in the province.3
  • The relatively high and escalating rate of core housing needs in BC is a source of concern, given the negative impacts of inadequate or unsuitable housing on child and youth health and well-being. 

 

Figure Notes and Sources

Figure 42.1

Notes: "Core housing need" means not meeting one of the established standards of adequacy, affordability, or suitability, as defined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. "Urban" means communities with a population of 10,000 or more.

Data source:  Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canadian Housing Observer 2013. Housing indicators and data based on the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics.3 Prepared by the Surveillance and Epidemiology Team, BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer, 2016.

Figure 42.2

Notes: "Core housing need" means not meeting one of the established standards of adequacy, affordability, or suitability, as defined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. "Urban" means communities with a population of 10,000 or more.

Data source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canadian Housing Observer 2013. Housing indicators and data based on the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics.3 Prepared by the Surveillance and Epidemiology Team, BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer, 2016.

Figure 42.3

Notes: "Core housing need" means not meeting one of the established standards of adequacy, affordability, or suitability, as defined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. While only the three Census Metropolitan Areas shown are large enough for comparative analyses, the BC percentage includes all "urban" areas (communities with a population of 10,000 or more).

Data source:  Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canadian Housing Observer 2013. Housing indicators and data based on the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics.3 Prepared by the Surveillance and Epidemiology Team, BC Office of the Provincial Health Officer, 2016.

 

References

  1. H. Krueger & Associates. Child and youth health and well-being indicators project: appendix I—economic and material well-being evidence review [prepared for the Office of the Provincial Health Officer and the Canadian Institute for Health Information]. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Institute for Health Information; 2011 [cited 2016 Apr 7].
  2. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Housing in Canada online. Definitions of variables. Ottawa, ON: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; [cited 2016 Jun 17]. Available from: http://cmhc.beyond2020.com/HiCODefinitions_EN.html.
  3. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics-based housing indicators and data. Cited by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Canadian housing observer 2013. Ottawa, ON: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; 2013 [cited 2016 May 24]. Available from: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/67989.pdf.