Cost of living, housing, healthcare, and homelessness top the list of CRD concerns in latest Vital Signs study

The quality of life in Victoria is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven with a B grade.

With apologies to The Bard, the results of Vital Signs 2024— the 19th yearly community check-up conducted by the Victoria Foundation—are out. When asked to rate their overall quality of life, the average grade given by the 6,564 participants was a B, signifying good,but that improvements could be made.

That’s the same grade as last year but down from 2022’s B+.

“For nearly 20 years, Vital Signs has been helping the community identify and respond to the greatest challenges facing our region,” said CEO Sandra Richardson.

“Imagining a future where our grandkids and future generations can thrive begins with gathering a clear picture of the quality of life in Greater Victoria today.”

Issues that cause concern

The clear picture today is the cost of living was cited by 70% to be the No. 1 issue for CRD residents, followed by housing (58%); healthcare (57%); homelessness (55%); addictions (52%); mental health (34%); climate change (20%); community planning (18%); transportation (16%); poverty (16%); eldercare (16%); economy (14%): food security (13%); municipal amalgamation (12%).

Best features of living here

When it came to the best aspects of living in Greater Victoria, 65% said our beautiful natural environment; climate was next at 54%, followed by air quality (52%); parks (46%); walkability (40%); friends and family (37%); access to locally grown food (32%); recreation opportunities (28%); arts and culture (25%); restaurants (24%); cycling Infrastructure (23%); festivals and events (18%); safety (16%); and local breweries (14%).

Those taking the survey were asked to grade their experiences with 12 key issues, their perceptions and observations about equity and inclusion, and their thoughts on future generations of Greater Victoria.

Participants graded issues on a scale of “A” for excellent and “F” for failing.

No surprise... housing is a major concern

While no issue received a failing grade, the matter that got the worst mark was housing. Propelled by a perpetually low vacancy rate, respondents gave housing a D- grade, down from a D last year. Vital Signs pointed to the availability (1.6% average occupancy rate for all unit types) and cost (all apartment rent is up 7.8% since 2022) as reasons for the poor grade.

The report found one in five CRD renters was aged 65 or older, and that one-fifth (21%) of them spent more than half their income on rent and utilities, “putting them at heightened risk of homelessness.” It also said CRD residents earning minimum wage would have to work 54 hours each week to affordably rent the average apartment ($1,571 per month for all units), meaning they spend no more than 30% of household income on rent.

The grade for health and wellness also fell from a B- to a C+, with the report pointing Greater Victoria being one of three BC cities experiencing many unregulated drug deaths.

The standard of living dropped to a C+ from a B-. The median family income in the CRD (2022 is the latest available) was $66,620, up from $64,980 in 2022.

Environmental sustainability remained the same with a grade of B. Sports and recreation got a bump to a B+ from a B. Belonging and engagement, arts and culture, and the economy were categories that saw no change.

Graphic courtesy Vital Signs 2024

Breakdown of those who opined

Of the 6K+ who responded—the most in the study’s history—53% identified as female, 46% as male, and fewer than 1% as binary or other, while 68% said they had lived in the CRD for more than 10 years, with most—34%—calling Victoria home. Thirty percent who participated in the study were 65+, 24% said they were 31-44, 17% said they were 18-30 years old, 15% were 45-54 and the rest were 55 to 64 years of age.

The majority—68%—of respondents said they are likely to still be living and/or working in Greater Victoria 10 years from now. Just a tad less—65%—said they’re satisfied with their work-and-home life balance while a distinctively low portion of respondents—24%—said they would consider their access to physical healthcare on time as good or excellent.

When asked to rate diversity, equity, and inclusion, the overall grade for the CRD was a B- and there were three issues respondents felt the region needs to put its focus on when dealing with this issue:

• Support for people experiencing mental-health challenges, addictions, and homelessness
• Affordable housing and rental space
• Equal opportunities for all citizens

To that end, only 43% of respondents agreed that Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour have equal opportunities and are treated as equals. Just more than half—52%—said they believed Greater Victorians are committed to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion. A healthier percentage—77%—said it’s important to learn about and respect Indigenous culture, values, and traditions. More than three-quarters of respondents—76%—said they feel accepted in their neighbourhood, and 73% said they felt respected for who they are.

Graphic courtesy Vital Signs 2024

Foundation's background

The Victoria Foundation was established in 1936 and is Canada’s second-oldest community foundation. The Foundation manages charitable gifts, creating permanent, income-earning funds which are then distributed as grants for charitable or educational purposes. To date, the Victoria Foundation has invested $340M+ in people, projects, and non-profit organizations in BC and throughout Canada.

‍ See the survey’s results here.

Graphic courtesy Vital Signs 2024