Greater Victorians gave housing in the region a failing grade in the annual Victoria’s Vital Signs report published on Tuesday — the first F that an issue has received in the study’s 17 years.
The 2022 survey data, released by the Victoria Foundation, was collected from an annual online survey completed by just over 2,500 people — the majority of whom are employed, live in Greater Victoria and are between the ages of 31 and 44, and over age 65.
This year, the online survey was shortened and focused more on the theme of community. Conducted over two months from May through July, of the 2,542 surveys completed, 408 were done via a research panel.
The findings show that Greater Victorians rate their overall quality of life on average as a B+, up slightly from last year. They said the most important issues facing Greater Victoria today are housing, cost of living and health care.
Asked what would make Greater Victoria an even better place to live, 44 per cent said affordable housing and more rental options.
The median sale price for a single-family home in May 2022 was $1.25 million, up from just over $1 million the previous year, the report said.
Seventy per cent of respondents rated the availability of affordable home-ownership options as below average or poor, and 84 per cent said the same about the availability of rental accommodation.
Sandra Richardson, CEO of the Victoria Foundation, said the report makes clear that Greater Victoria faces significant issues, especially around housing and cost of living. In 2020 and 2021 housing earned a D+.
“With so many people struggling, it’s more important than ever to work collectively to find solutions that work for everyone,” said Richardson.
Areas that scored high include arts and culture, which received a B; belonging and engagement, which scored a B-; education, which received a B+; and sports and education, which earned a B+.
The economy got a C+; environmental sustainability a B-; child and youth care received a C; and health and wellness earned a C+.
Despite the cost-of-living issues on people’s minds, 80 per cent said they have an average to excellent ability to find suitable employment and 66 per cent rated the region’s economy as average to excellent.
When it came to personal finances, survey respondents were asked to rate their ability to afford necessities.
Nineteen per cent rated their ability to pay for what they needed as excellent, 25 per cent said it was good, 29 per cent said average, while 28 per cent rated it below average to poor.
In Belonging and Engagement, 44 per cent graded Greater Victoria as a C, or average. Those aged 31-44 were more likely to grade the region an A in this area than those age 45 and older.
In health, 56 per cent said their health was good to excellent while 55 per cent said the same for their mental health.
In terms of health care services, however, 58 per cent rated their ability to access health care in a timely manner as below average to poor, while 54 per cent said the same regarding mental health care in Greater Victoria.
The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.94 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
To find out more about the Vital Signs program, visit victoriafoundation.bc.ca.
