About the report:

Vital Signs is an important annual community check-up. Funders and policy-makers use these check-ups, or reports, to determine where to focus their attention in helping to create better lives for all residents of Surrey.

Our report provides a comprehensive, reader-friendly look at how our community is faring in key quality-of-life areas. We call these areas indicators.

Indicators can be measured in a number of ways. These include the resources being provided (people, programs, and dollars) through to perceptions or ideals. Personal experiences often play an important role in our own reactions to either success or identified needs.

Housing

It’s a common problem around the Lower Mainland: housing prices are high and availability is low. Having a place to live is important for everyone, but fi nding that place can be a big challenge for newcomers to Surrey.

Affordability is an issue

Most newcomers still see Surrey as affordable and a reason to move to the community. But being able to afford housing is an issue for many. Put another way, compared to other communities, Surrey’s housing is cheaper. However, new residents still fi nd it hard to afford the rapidly rising rents and home prices (see line graph on facing page). Affordability is one of the overall top-three challenges noted by newcomers. And 60% of newcomers named affordability as one of their challenges in fi nding housing (see bar graph on facing page). In Surrey, the average price of a single-family detached home is more than $1 million, and rents have been going up too.

Hard decisions and compromises

A large part of the income of Surrey residents goes toward housing costs, whether they rent or buy. Due to high housing costs, many newcomers may have to live with family or friends. While they may have dreams of buying a home, that dream could be a long way off. For newcomers lucky enough to fi nd suitable housing, many had to go outside their desired neighbourhood to do so. Some said they faced discrimination while looking for a place to live. Another challenge is the lack of parking. So on top of fi nding a place to lay their head, newcomers must also fi nd a place to park their car.

Things to celebrate:

• Affordable housing is the leading reason to move to Surrey. 

Things to improve:

• Surrey detached house prices have soared 43% in the past year.

• Newcomers see affordability as the biggest challenge