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Youth Households Living in Core Housing Need

PDF - Report

This socio economic report analyzes the core housing need of youth from 2001 to 2016. We examine the incidence of core housing need among households aged 15-to-19, 20-to-24 and 25-to-29.

Our analysis also focuses on the housing conditions of different youth household groups:

  • homeowners
  • renters
  • visible minority households
  • immigrant households
  • female-led lone-parent households

Key Highlights

In 2016, 27.1% of youth households aged 15-to-24 were living in core housing need. This was mostly temporary and quickly decreased to 12.9% as they reached the 25-to-29 age group.

  • The proportion of youth households in core housing need declined, from 18.6% in 2001 to 14.8% in 2016.
  • The depth of need for youth households in core housing need was higher in 2016 than in 2001.
  • The incidences of core housing need decrease as youth transition to the 20-to-24 and 25-to-29 age groups.
  • Nunavut had the highest incidence of youth households in core housing need in Canada, at 41.9%.
  • Quebec had the lowest incidence of youth households in core housing need, at 9.1%.
  • In 2016, the vast majority of youth households in core housing need were renters.

This report is part of the Socio Economic Analysis series.

Author:
CMHC
Document Type:
PDF
Date Published:
October 15, 2020
Download
socio-economic-analysis-youth-households-living-core-housing-need-69652-enpdf

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Core Housing Need and Depth of Need

A household is considered in core housing need if both:

  • Its housing falls below at least one of the adequacy, affordability or suitability standards.
  • It would have to spend 30% or more of its total before-tax income for alternative local housing that meets its needs.

Depth of need is an affordability gap measure for households in core housing need. The gap is calculated based on the difference between 30% of the core need income threshold and 30% of the household’s before-tax income.

It can also be calculated by determining if both:

  • a household lives in a dwelling that is suitable and adequate
  • if the reported shelter cost is less than 30% of the core need income threshold

The gap is the difference between 30% of before-tax income and reported shelter costs.

About CMHC Socio Economic Analysis

The socio economic analysis series are detailed, stand-alone research reports prepared by CMHC researchers. They present a focused analysis of housing and demographic or economic data and trends, such as core housing need among various populations in Canada.

Related Links

  • Youth and Youth-Led Households Data Tables

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