The South Okanagan and Similkameen, including Penticton, Keremeos and Osoyoos, needs over 11,000 new homes in 2041 over 2021's numbers according to a recent regional housing needs report.
The report, completed by Urbanics and provided to local councils and the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen Board, is based in part off of the 2021 census and estimated growth for the region.
Penticton, Keremeos and Osoyoos joined the study with the RDOS. The municipalities of Summerland, Princeton and Oliver were not included in the report, and their required housing isn't part of the regional estimate.
The majority of the housing required will be in Penticton, the largest urban centre in the region, with 6,296 new housing units built in the 20-year period after 2021.
The RDOS will need 3,574 units between 2021 and 2041, with the largest growth areas being Electoral Areas C (Rural Oliver) needing 599 and D (Okanagan Falls) needing 616 units.
The Village of Keremeos will need 369 units, which is still a 43% increase over it's 2021 stock of housing.
One of the larger needs identified in the report is the projected increase in the population of senior residents in the RDOS, which by 2041 is currently estimated to reach 13,000 residents, or 41 per cent of the population.
