Housing Conditions of Recent Immigrants in the Ottawa-Gatineau Region

CHRA Congress 2013Richard Gabay Policy and Research DivisionCanada Mortgage and Housing CorporationMay 2013

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION 2

Source region of recent immigrants, Ottawa-Gatineau and Ontario, 2006

Africa

West Central Asia & Middle East

Europe

East Asia

South Asia

Central & South America

Southeast Asia

Caribbean

United States & other

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Ottawa-Gatineau OntarioSource: CMHC, adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Canada)

Proportion of recent immigrants born in each region (%)

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Median after-tax incomes, immigrant and non-immigrant households, Ottawa-Gatineau, 2005

2001 to 2006 (recent)

1996 to 2000

1991 to 1995

1981 to 1990

Prior to 1981

All immigrants

Canadian-born

All households

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000

Households by type of maintainer and period of immigration

Year of landing describes the year in which the primary household maintainer landed in Canada.“Recent” refers to maintainers who landed in Canada from January 1, 2001 through May 16, 2006.Source: CMHC, adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Canada)

Median after-tax household income (dollars)

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Homeownership rates, immigrant and non-immigrant households, Ottawa-Gatineau, 2006

2001 to 2006 (recent)

1996 to 2000

1991 to 1995

1981 to 1990

Prior to 1981

All immigrants

Non-immigrants

All households

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Households by type of maintainer and period of immigration

Year of landing describes the year in which the primary household maintainer landed in Canada.“Recent” refers to maintainers who landed in Canada from January 1, 2001 through May 16, 2006.Source: CMHC, adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Canada)

Owners as a % of all households in group

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Rate of crowding, immigrant and non-immigrant households, Ottawa-Gatineau, 2006

2001 to 2006 (recent)

1996 to 2000

1991 to 1995

1981 to 1990

Prior to 1981

All immigrants

Non-immigrants

All households

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Households by type of maintainer and period of immigration

Year of landing describes the year in which the primary household maintainer landed in Canada.“Recent” refers to maintainers who landed in Canada from January 1, 2001 through May 16, 2006.Source: CMHC, adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Canada)

Crowded households as a % of all households in group

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Shelter cost-to-income ratio, immigrant and non-immigrant households, Ottawa-Gatineau, 2006

2001 to 2006 (recent)

1996 to 2000

1991 to 1995

1981 to 1990

Prior to 1981

All immigrants

Non-immigrants

All households

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Households by type of maintainer and period of immigration

Exclude farm, band, and reserve households; households with incomes of zero or less; and households with STIRs of 100% or more. Year of landing describes the year in which the primary household maintainer landed in Canada. “Recent” refers to maintainers who landed in Canada from January 1, 2001 through May 16, 2006.Source: CMHC, adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Canada)

Average shelter-cost-to-income (STIR) ratio by group (%)

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Core housing need, immigrant and non-immigrant households, Ottawa-Gatineau, 2006

2001 to 2006 (recent)

1996 to 2000

1991 to 1995

1981 to 1990

Prior to 1981

All immigrants

Non-immigrants

All households

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Households by type of maintainer and period of immigration

% of households in core housing need

Excludes farm, band, and reserve households; households with incomes of zero or less; and households with STIRs of 100% or more. Year of landing describes the year in which the primary household maintainer landed in Canada. “Recent” refers to maintainers who landed in Canada from January 1, 2001 through May 16, 2006.Source: CMHC, adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Canada)

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Core housing need, immigrant and non-immigrant households, Ontario urban areas*, 2002-2007

* Urban areas include Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) and Census Agglomerations (CAs).Source: CMHC, adapted from Statistics Canada (Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics)

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090

5

10

15

20

25

Immigrants Non-immigrants

% of households in core housing need

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Persistence of core housing need, immigrant and non-immigrant individuals, Ontario urban areas, 2005-2007

Individuals ‘Occasionally in need‘ were in core housing need for 1 or 2 years; those ‘Persistently in need’ were in core housing need for all three years, 2005-2007.Source: CMHC, adapted from Statistics Canada (Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics)

Never in need Occasionally in need Persistently in need0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Immigrants Non-immigrants

Households by core housing need status (%)

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION 10

Considerations Newcomers generally experience more challenging housing

conditions– housing outcomes typically improve the longer

immigrants remain in the region– but some face persistently challenging housing

conditions Differences between recent and other immigrants are

partly age-related– recent immigrants are generally younger– younger people typically have lower savings and

incomes and more affordability challenges Immigrants are not homogeneous

– each generation is unique– each group faces different economic conditions upon

arrival– immigrants from different parts of the world may have

different housing preferences and outcomes– language, labour market, housing and other challenges

will be different for different types and cohorts of immigrants

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CMHC online tools—housing for newcomers

Housing information in 8 languages– Renting/buying a home– Looking after your home– What is a credit report

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CMHC online tools—housing for newcomers