20% of Salt Spring housing empty half the year, advocates say, as they call for action to ease housing shortage

On the largest of the Gulf Islands, having accommodations can trump qualifications amid a severe shortage of housing for workers needed for its booming tourism, agricultural and arts economy — as well as essential services like its hospital and ferry system.

“The housing shortage has been absolutely devastating to a lot of businesses, and just about everything else here,” says Wood. Robinson included Duncan, Ladysmith, North Cowichan and Lake Cowichan in the latest round this month — as well as Squamish and Lion’s Bay, but not Salt Spring, despite islanders’ concerns about near-zero vacancy rates.

Salt Spring Solutions estimates 20 per cent of the homes on Salt Spring stand empty for more than six months of the year. “That’s a lot of foregone revenue that could be helping Salt Spring Island to avoid becoming a hollowed-out executive and retirement community,” said Heitzmann. “No community is complete without a diversity of ages and incomes.”

Coles said she and husband and business partner Jason Coles are renters themselves and experience “constant anxiety” about losing their home — and possibly their café — if they ever have to start looking for a new place.

Will the government bite the hands that feeds? To many politicians have island cottages to expect any change.

BC government does't want to tax Goldie Hawn and Al Pacino I guess.

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