TAMRMS#: B06
6.2
Information Item Only
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Affordable Housing Needs Assessment & Affordable Housing Strategy
Presented by: Katie Mahoney, Planning Manager, and Lory Scott, Affordable Housing Liaison. External Consultants: Matt Pipe and Bahar Shadpour of SHS Inc.
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SUMMARY
Administration is presenting an update on the Housing Needs Assessment and Affordable Housing Strategy project with the project consultant, SHS Inc. Council’s input at this meeting will provide strategic direction and policy guidance to inform the priorities and actions to be incorporated into the forthcoming Affordable Housing Strategy, guiding St. Albert’s approach to housing over the next decade.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
Budget 2024 approved Capital Project Charter Plan - 009 Housing Options for Affordability and Accessibility in the amount of $112,500, to implement the findings of the Housing Affordability and Accessibility Options report, which recommended the development of the Housing Needs Assessment and Affordable Housing Strategy.
All cities across Canada with populations over 30,000 are required to complete the standardized HNA process to be eligible for funding through current and future federal infrastructure funding streams.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Housing Needs Assessments (HNAs) are used to understand the local housing market conditions, identify current and emerging housing gaps, and determine where the greatest housing needs exist. They are informed by statistical data, engagement with community interest holders, and research examining existing and projected housing conditions, labour market factors affecting housing supply and demand, and broader gaps in the housing system. The data from the HNA will support the City to plan for housing, and effectively manage and accommodate growth in a sustainable manner, consistent with the high-level direction of the Municipal Development Plan (MDP), and anticipated infrastructure investments needed for future growth. As a result, the HNA will play a critical role in informing City decision making over the next 10-years.
Completion of a HNA is a mandatory requirement to maintain eligibility for federal infrastructure funding programs, including the Canada Community Building Fund, the Housing Accelerator Fund, the Canada Public Transit Fund, and future federal funding streams. Municipalities with populations over 30,000 are required to report HNA findings through a standardized framework, ensuring consistent measurement of housing and associated infrastructure needs across Canada. The HNA directly informs infrastructure prioritization and supports the City’s ability to leverage senior government funding to address growth-related pressures on transportation, servicing, schools, and recreational facilities.
Completion and submission of the federal HNA template is currently tied to approximately $10.3 million in federal funding already received through the Canada Community Building Fund and the Housing Accelerator Fund. To remain compliant with federal funding requirements and to avoid potential risk to current and future funding, the finalized Housing Needs Assessment must be approved by Council by the end of May 2026. The HNA is required to be updated every five years.
SHS Inc., the consultant retained by the City to complete the HNA and Affordable Housing Strategy (AHS), will present the HNA methodology and seek Council’s direction on preferred strategic priorities and policy focus areas. Council’s input at this stage will guide the development of recommended actions and implementation measures within the AHS.
Affordable Housing Strategies are widely used across Canada to translate housing needs data into clear policy directions and actionable initiatives that address identified housing gaps. In recent years, St. Albert has advanced several initiatives to strengthen the local housing market. The AHS will build on this work by using local data to inform future housing policies and investment decisions, supporting economic development and sustainable population growth.
The Municipal Development Plan (MDP) establishes the City’s objectives to provide a full and balanced range of housing options that meet the needs of residents at all stages of life. Council’s direction on the strategic focus of the AHS will ensure alignment with existing MDP housing policies and principles, as outlined in Attachment #1, and will inform future planning, policy, and partnership decisions.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
The development of the Housing Needs Assessment and the Affordable Housing Strategy includes a comprehensive engagement process within the Refine to Create level of the City’s Public Engagement Framework.
1. Community agency input has been gathered through targeted housing-related questions at the Community Social Roadmap event held on March 5 (45 participants), with a focus on understanding the relationship between housing and client needs.
2. Broader resident input was sought through the Expanding Housing Options Survey, conducted between March 9 and March 27, with 585 responses received.
3. Six focus group sessions are scheduled between April 13 and April 16 with city staff, Indigenous partners, housing providers, community agencies, members of Council committees, business organizations, and members of the development industry.
A “What We Learned Report” will be developed based on the outcomes of all engagement processes. Council’s input at this Standing Committee of the Whole meeting will provide strategic direction and policy guidance, building on feedback received from public and stakeholder engagement, to inform the priorities and actions to be incorporated into the forthcoming Affordable Housing Strategy.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
The Housing Needs Assessment and Affordable Housing Strategy aligns with two of Council’s Strategic Priorities:
Strategic Priority #1: Economic Prosperity: “Support plans and agreements that foster development in St. Albert, including mature neighbourhoods, and build affordability in all new development.
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan: Infill Strategy
Strategic Priority #3: Community Well Being: “Respond to changing demographics, accommodate the diverse needs of residents and continue to foster an inclusive community where everyone has an opportunity to fully participate and feel welcomed. “Support development of mixed housing choices including market, attainable, and transitional housing types.”
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan: Advance Mixed Market Housing Development
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
N/A
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
Direction may be provided by the Standing Committee of the Whole through a motion instructing Administration to update specific goals or desired outcomes within the forthcoming Affordable Housing Strategy.
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Report Date: April 14, 2026
Author(s): Lory Scott
Department: Planning and Development
Department Director: Kristina Peter
Managing Director: Adryan Slaght
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher