Housing Policy Update
Housing Needs AssessmentTo continue the proud tradition of building sustainable communities on our land and meet the Nation’s strategic vision of housing every Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Member within a generation, Nexwsxwníw̓ntm ta Úxwumixw (Council) requested that the Housing Policy be updated.
Staff from Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects), Ts’ixwts’ixwnítway (Member Services), Nexwsp’áyaḵen ta Úxuwmixw (Community Operations), Ta na wa Ch’áwat ta Sx̱wéx̱wel (Squamish Valley Operations), Wa Ns7eyx̱ ta Temíxw (Community Lands), and Hiy̓ám̓ Housing are working together on this important project.
The Project Team can be reached at housingpolicy@squamish.net or 604-904-7474.
Project Progress
During the spring and summer of 2024, we are inviting Squamish People to share their feedback on the Allocations Policy and process. Round 1 engagement is now complete. A ‘what we heard’ summary and Round 2 engagement will happen later in July.
Additional Housing List info sessions are scheduled over the next month. Spots are limited; to register, email Kayla_Seipp@squamish.net or call 604-982-7610.
A number of engagement activities and opportunities for Members to provide feedback took place throughout 2022.
- In January, a Housing History Timeline brochure was mailed to all households.
- Two online community meetings were held in February. A Housing Q&A booklet was prepared based on the questions raised during those meetings. It was sent to all households.
- The Project Team attended the Department Open Houses in May 2022 to gather input on various housing questions.
- A Housing Policy survey was conducted in June and received over 130 responses.
- In July, key Members who have expertise in different areas related to the Housing Policy were interviewed.
- During the Amalgamation Day celebration, Members were invited to complete an interactive Housing Policy questionnaire.
As Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw honors the teachings of the past and shows respect to the ancestors by upholding their words, feedback from previous engagements was also considered:
- The Housing Advisory Committee Letter of Recommendations received in September 2020.
- The Renovations Policy survey conducted in 2020.
- The 2003 Housing Policy Q&A session.
The feedback was woven into the Housing Policy Community Engagement Report 2022. It quickly became clear that a single Housing Policy could no longer incorporate all the updates required. Therefore, it was decided to create 13 individual policies divided by topic and guided by one overarching Housing Policy Framework. This is a significant amount of work and needs to take place in phases.
Phase One focused on developing/revising the following. They were approved by Nexwsxwníw̓ntm ta Úxwumixw (Council) in March 2023.
The remaining policies will be developed at a later date. We will keep Members informed on their progress.
- Alterations and Additions Policy
- Alternative Housing Policy
- Buy and Sell Policy
- Hiy̓ám Home Loan Policy
- Laneways and Ensuites Policy
- Lot Transfer Policy
- Rentals Policy
- Replacement and Revocation Policy
- Residential Uses Policy
- Self-Financed Housing Program Policy
Huy chexw a (thank you) to those Members who expressed interest in joining the Housing Policy Community Working Group. The following were selected to represent different demographics including on- and off-reserve, Squamish Valley and North Vancouver, those with a house and without, as well as various age groups. The group held their first meeting on October 12, 2022 and met biweekly until February 2023 before shifting to monthly meetings.
Amy Baker (Off-reserve, North Vancouver, Adult)
Glen Campo (Off-reserve, Langley, Elder)
Becky Findlay (On-reserve, North Vancouver, Adult)
Andrea Jacobs (On-reserve, North Vancouver, Elder)
Uxwáluút, Jessica Natrall (On-reserve, North Vancouver, Adult)
Lats-mat, Mary Jane Natrall (On-reserve, Squamish Valley, Elder)
Jenna Vocal (Off-reserve, North Vancouver, Adult)
Yususult, Rosemarie Williams (On-reserve, Squamish Valley, Adult)
Allocation Policy Update
We are working to make improvements to the Allocations Policy and process to increase clarity, transparency, and consistency. We are committed to making improvements that honour the past, present, and future experiences of Squamish households.
In the recently approved 2024/2025 budget, Nexwsxwníw̓ntm ta Úxwumixw (Council) approved funding for 15 lot and home allocations. These allocations are planned for Fall 2024 and will take place under the new standalone Allocations Policy.
We are making these improvements so that all applicants:
- Feel like they have the information they need to understand how lot and home allocations are made.
- Feel confident in the decision-making process.
- Feel like they will be treated fairly and equally, in line with the allocation eligibility criteria.
What does this mean?
The update will include:
- Improving the clarity of the eligibility requirements.
- Making the definitions clearer.
- Simplifying the policy language.
- Addressing and removing any contradictions.
- Ensuring Squamish Nation staff procedures in the policy are consistent.
The update will not include:
- Specifying how many homes are allocated or distributed between categories.
- Determining the number of allocations that are made in any given year.
- Creating new categories or changing existing category headings.