The City of Charlottetown has released its 2025 Housing Needs Assessment as part of its ongoing commitment to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) program.
Housing Needs Assessments (HNAs) are required for all communities that receive funding under the HAF program. The HNA provides important data on where the greatest housing needs exist in our community as well as how much housing and the type of housing we need to ensure current and future residents are adequately and affordably housed.
Key Findings:
• Population Growth – Charlottetown’s population increased 22 per cent between 2011-2021, driven largely by international immigration and interprovincial migration. This growth has created significant demand for diverse housing, especially affordable rental housing.
• Housing Deficit – Population growth continues to outpace new housing in Charlottetown; the city’s vacancy rate is currently under one per cent. This results in moderate-to low-income earners finding it increasingly challenging to find affordable housing.
• Core Housing Need – Seven per cent of households in Charlottetown are in core housing need, meaning they lack adequate, suitable or affordable housing. The majority of those in core housing need are renters.
The report recommends that the City focus its policies and programs on improving affordability, adequacy and suitability of housing to address core housing needs and changing population trends. It also recommends that the City prioritize the infrastructure needed to accommodate projected population growth, including investments in roads, public transportation and potable and wastewater services.
“This Housing Needs Assessment provides critical data that will help inform our decision-making as we continue to plan for and manage growth in Charlottetown,” said Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov, Chair of the City’s Planning and Heritage Committee. “The City is committed to working with our partners and community stakeholders to ensure our citizens have access to affordable housing that meets their needs.”
The City has several initiatives currently underway that are aimed at enabling a broad range of housing and preparing our critical infrastructure for sustained growth. The
Official Plan and
Zoning and Development Bylaw are being updated to reflect the policy and regulatory changes needed to address growth-related challenges and encourage increased density in strategic areas. Work also continues on new and expanded transit routes and additional buses to meet demand through the City’s
Capital Area Public Transit Plan. A
Parking Strategy and
Active Transportation Plan are also in development and will help improve mobility and increase transportation options and access across the city.
To learn more about the City’s efforts to address housing and infrastructure needs, visit
Charlottetown.ca.
The full Housing Needs Assessment report is available
here.