Banff tries to lead the way to affordable housing solution

Finding affordable housing can be difficult in many parts of Alberta.But nowhere is it more challenging than in the Bow Valley, where the vacancy rate sits at zero per cent.In the fifthpart of a week-long series, CBC Calgary's Evelyne Asselinlooks at what Banff is trying to do.

Banff is a beautiful place to visit and to live but ithas some unique issues around itslack of affordable housing.

The average rent in Banff is $1200 a month. ButBanffitesmake less than their friends in other Canadian resort towns.

• Part Four|Bow Valley housing helpers offer discount rooms, online advice
• Part Three|Canmore in a housing 'crisis' with average home price hovering near $998,000
• Part Two|Banff businesses face unique challenges to stay afloat
• Part One|Banff may be a mountain paradise but housing crisis more 'dire' than ever

According to aneconomic prosperity reportissued in May 2014, Banff's median income was $40,620, which is 37 per cent less than otherAlbertans, and13 per centless than their peers in other resort areas.

"We are designing our own way, we've done a lot of work, we've done a lot of research and it's coming out in the strategy. So we have a very clear direction of what we need to do and how to do it,"saidSharonOakley,coordinator of Banff's housing sustainability.

Whistlerhas affordability problems and overcrowding rentals according to theCanadian Rental Housing Index.

The average rent is $1,463,roughly $200 more than in Banff.

Jasper's situation is quite similar to Banff in terms of affordability whileFernie,RevelstokeandMontTremblantall have average rentsunder $900 a month.

Banff studies solutions

The Town of Banff interviewed key people with other resort towns to understand how they were trying to solve their similar issues. It's part of what was used to draft the town's Community Housing Strategyadopted by the council in 2014.

The town also has building restrictions that limit growth.Buildings are capped at threestoreys.

"Nobody has the exact same parameters, challenges, opportunities that Banff does. We can go to Jasper, we can go to Whistler, we can go toSquamish, we can look at all the things that they do but we are not comparing apples to apples," saidOakley.

Need to reside

Banff is inside a national park with set boundaries and a need to residerule was implemented in the 1960'sbefore it became a town.

To own a house and live in it, or to rent a place in Banff, you need to prove you work there or comply to theeligibility requirements.

The strategy works well according to Banff National Park field unit superintendent David McDonough, "It's a tool that has been effective over the years, ithelps ensure that people who live here, need to live here for workand that's been an important part of this strategy."

However there have been rumours in the town about whetherthe eligibility requirementis enforced.

Investigations by Parks Canada aren't public for privacy concernsandMcDonoughwon'tconfirm the number of files they are working on or how many people failed to comply.

"If issues are brought to our attention, we investigate those issues and we even have a number of files on the go right now," saidMcDonough. "If there's a problem with compliancethey may chose to move out of the park.Often it's a misconception."