Housing Distribution and Saturation – a conundrum for community. – The Shore – Kamloops Business Improvement Association
In recent weeks, the NSBIA penned a letter to the City of Kamloops as part of our participation with the Kamplan review.
We have serious concerns that a fair and balanced approach to housing is not being considered on the North Shore.
While we acknowledge the need for a variety of housing types (shelter, low barrier, affordable, family, seniors, market sale, market rental, missing middle, etc.) there is no clarity on what measure of maximum saturation each segment should have within our community.
Our concern surrounds our perception that there may be an overabundance of one type of housing (low barrier, social, and sheltering) within key areas such as the Tranquille and Fortune Corridors, West Victoria, Columbia Street west and Valleyview.
We are concerned that elements of poverty entrenchment can be creeping in to these neighborhoods and that the city MUST take a more strategic approach to maximum levels of these types of housing within our city as a whole, and within our neighbourhoods as a percentage or population for each distinct area.
Based on our research:
Poverty Entrenchment and Social Housing: Impacts on Neighbourhoods
Poverty entrenchment refers to the cyclical and persistent nature of poverty, where individuals or communities face systemic barriers that limit opportunities for upward mobility. Social housing, designed to provide stable accommodation for low-income or vulnerable populations, is an essential component of poverty reduction strategies. However, when social housing is unevenly distributed, poorly integrated, or concentrated in specific neighbourhoods without adequate supports, it can inadvertently contribute to the long-term entrenchment of poverty in those areas.
Key Mechanisms of Entrenchment
Spatial Concentration of Poverty – When a high volume of social housing units is concentrated in a single area, it can lead to segregation along socioeconomic lines. Studies have shown that such spatial clustering is correlated with reduced economic mobility, lower educational attainment, and higher rates of intergenerational poverty (Galster, 2012).
Decline in Local Economic Activity – Over-concentration of low-income residents can reduce local purchasing power, which negatively affects nearby businesses. Reduced discretionary income in these neighbourhoods can lead to commercial vacancies, business closures, and a decrease in service diversity—further limiting access to goods, jobs, and economic vitality.
Social Stigma and Reduced Investment – Neighbourhoods with a high proportion of visible poverty and social housing can become stigmatized, deterring private investment, home ownership, and public infrastructure upgrades. This lack of reinvestment reinforces poverty by limiting employment, recreation, and education options.
Strain on Local Services – If social housing developments are not accompanied by scaled-up health, education, and public safety services, it can strain existing local infrastructure. This may lead to safety concerns, increased policing needs, and reduced quality of life for all residents in the area.
Case Studies and Evidence
A 2011 study by the OECD identified that countries with more mixed-income housing policies tend to have better outcomes in terms of poverty reduction and social integration.
The Furman Center (2022) found that supportive housing developments in New York did not necessarily reduce property values, but their long-term success depended on strategic placement, service integration, and neighbourhood context.
In Canada, research by the CMHC emphasizes the importance of “tenure mix” and community engagement in social housing projects to prevent poverty entrenchment and promote cohesion.
Policy Considerations
To avoid reinforcing poverty through social housing:
Balance Distribution: Ensure equitable placement of social housing across all city neighbourhoods.
Support Integration: Pair housing with wraparound supports such as employment services, mental health care, and education.
Maintain Mixed-Income Models: Encourage developments that blend income levels to reduce stigma and increase social mobility.
Monitor Neighbourhood Health: Track economic indicators, crime, and service access to adjust policy in real-time.
Conclusion
While social housing is vital in addressing homelessness and housing insecurity, its implementation must be mindful of long-term community impacts. Poorly planned or concentrated developments risk entrenching poverty in specific neighbourhoods, undermining the broader goal of equity and integration. A balanced, services-rich, and community-informed approach is critical to ensuring that social housing empowers rather than isolates its residents.
While we are seeing some of the preliminary indicators of poverty entrenchment in our city, (stigma, Strain on services, concentration, and a reduction in economic activity (attributive to a variety of causes) we believe there is still time to plan for greater distribution vibrancy and balance in our planning processes.
please see out letter for more specifics on our request.
Saturation_KamPlan_Request_Final_b
Cited and Supporting Sources
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Galster, G. (2012).
The Mechanism(s) of Neighborhood Effects: Theory, Evidence, and Policy Implications.
In Neighbourhood Effects Research: New Perspectives (pp. 23–56). Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2309-2_2 -
Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy (2022).
The Impact of Supportive Housing on Surrounding Neighborhoods: Evidence from New York City.
https://furmancenter.org/files/publications/Impact_of_Supportive.pdf -
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2011).
Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising.
Chapter on “The Spatial Dimensions of Inequality.”
https://www.oecd.org/social/inequality-and-poverty.htm -
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Affordable Housing Innovation: Mixed-Income Housing.
https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca -
Cityscape: A Journal of Policy Development and Research (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development).
Various articles on the impacts of concentrated poverty and mixed-income housing.
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/cityscape.html - Canadian Observatory on Homelessness (2019).
The Role of Supportive Housing in Ending Homelessness.
https://www.homelesshub.ca