A new survey has found that Saskatchewan is among the leading provinces in Canada in unaffordable, unsuitable or inadequate housing, also known as core housing needs. According to the Canadian Housing Survey released by Statistics Canada on Monday, Saskatchewan and Alberta both had the second highest incidence of core housing needs in 2024 at 13 per cent. Regina saw 13.5 per cent and Saskatoon saw 12.9 per cent of its housing unaffordable, unsuitable or inadequate. Only B.C. had a higher rate at 15.7 per cent. In Canada, 23.2 per cent of households revealed they were living in housing unaffordable to them, with renters more likely than owners to live in unaffordable housing in 2024. This was up from 22 per cent in 2022, with unaffordable housing defined as spending at least 30 per cent or more of their income or shelter costs. The survey also revealed over one in four households in Canada, or 27.9 per cent, reported they experienced financial difficulties over the last year due to rent or mortgage increases, up from 22.6 per cent in 2022. More to come…
