During the spring and summer of 2024, Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects) and Wa Ns7eyx̱ ta Temíxw (Community Lands) are inviting Squamish People to share their feedback about the home and lot allocation process through two rounds of engagement. Round 1 included opportunities to learn about the Housing List and gather feedback about the Allocations Policy and process.
Nation staff used the feedback to develop recommendations to improve the clarity, transparency, and consistency of the Allocations Policy process. You can learn more about what we heard from community in this summary document or click through the sections below to read about the proposed updates.
We are now in Round 2 of engagement. Click here to complete a short survey on the proposed updates. The deadline is Friday, August 9, 2024 and you can enter to win a gift card at the end of the survey.
If you have any questions about this work, please email housingpolicy@squamish.net or call 604-904-7474.
44% of survey respondents felt that the Allocations Policy and process were not clear and easy to understand.
Recommended actions to improve clarity
- Update the Allocations Policy to make it clear that allocations are not done annually. Rather, allocations will be considered for approval during the annual budgeting process.
- Update the Housing List from the fiscal year of the previous allocation to the present year to eliminate multiple lists and reflect people’s current circumstances.
- At least annually, remind applicants to update their information. Update the policy to specify the date that updates must be made to reflect accurately on the next publication of the Housing List.
56% of survey respondents felt that the Allocation Policy and process were not transparent.
Recommended actions to improve transparency
- Publish the Housing List annually by a date specified in the policy.
- Create an ongoing communications plan for informing Squamish People about the Housing List, the process for allocations, and information on whether an allocation will take place that year.
63% of survey respondents felt the Allocations Policy and process were not consistent.
Recommendations for improving consistency
- Require everyone to be transferred automatically to the Pensioner category once they turn 65.
- Update the definition of Single Parent to allow people to be in the single parent category regardless of the age of their child or whether the child lives with them.
- Update verification requirements to require either a marriage licence or at least one joint tax filing for people to be in the married/common-law category. Some people in marriagelike relationships may not be able to provide these documents for legitimate reasons. We are working internally to identify alternative methods of verification.
- Update Housing List eligibility so that a person is removed from the Housing List if they are gifted a house.
- Update the policy so that if someone who has inherited a home is also given an allocation, the Nation will select from the following two options based on the condition of the existing home: 1) build the new home on the existing lot or 2) transfer the existing lot to a family member who will live in the home, and then select a new lot for their allocation.