Housing has always been a focus area of discussion and policy action in the Town of Smithers. Since 2019, provincial rules require local governments to create reports about housing needs. These reports gather information to show what kind of housing is needed now and in the future. Housing Need Reports must also be updated every five years.
The Town of Smithers is currently updating their Housing Needs Report. Part of this is hearing from the community to better understand Smithers' housing situation. There are two options to submit your input:
- Community Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SmithersHousing (closes Friday, Oct. 18 at 4:30 pm). Printed copies are available at Town Hall (1027 Aldous St.)
- Drop-In Open House on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Town Hall. Come by between 12-2 pm or 5-7 pm.
Past Housing Needs Reports:
Rental Housing Incentive Program:
This Town of Smithers program provides incentives to individuals and organizations to create long term rental housing. The goal of this program is to encourage the development of rental housing (market, non-market, and secondary rental), with a focus on housing for low and low to moderate-income households.
Dollars to the Door Program
The Northern Development Initiative Trust’s Dollars to the Doors Program (NDIT) is designed to encourage the development of new market-based multi-family housing units in communities and thereby to create additional business and local employment opportunities.
The program benefits new multi-family residential developments in Smithers – both rental and for sale – providing up to $10,000 per newly created dwelling unit, to a maximum contribution of $200,000 to a project/community, at a given time.
- Multi-Family Housing Incentive Program Policy establishes program requirements and processing procedures.
- Dollars to the Door Program Application
- Dollars to the Doors Program Guide
- NDIT Official Website
Interested applicants are advised to contact the Planner, Deepa Chandran, at dchandran@smithers.ca or 250-847-1600.