StatsCan finally released population statistics for cities as of July 1, 2023. Halifax saw record 4% growth, adding 19,780 residents in a single year. The Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) population is now 518,711. Crossing the 500k mark is a bit anti-climatic, as it’s also happened because StatsCan redrew Halifax’s CMA boundary to include the District of East Hants. The municipality (HRM) itself it is still at 491,921. Oh well. Maybe (likely?) next year!
In 2023, Halifax started construction on 4,780 housing units, a good year in recent history, but well short of what would be needed to meet population growth. For a rough estimate - the average dwelling holds 2.3 people, which means we’d need to build just under 10,000 housing units to meet population growth1.
It’s incredible that this growth is happening despite almost no housing availability: Halifax already had a critically low 1% vacancy rate last fall.
That means the record population growth mostly had to be squeezed into existing housing. Thousands of folks needing to live with their parents longer, or needing to have a roommate longer, or taking on another roommate. We don’t know how that shook out, but it isn’t good, and is only a stop-gap measure (hopefully) that needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
That’s why it’s so important for Halifax city council to at least legalize more housing (in theory the easy part - it’s changing words on paper), and especially housing that can be built faster2. They are currently debating Housing Accelerator Fund reforms that would mark a good step in that direction. You can see my comments to council here, and a summary of pro-housing voices here.
This is a flattering comparison: new units are more likely to be smaller apartments that don’t have the same capacity as large homes. It also doesn’t account for demolitions. But that can be a rabbit hole…
Even before COVID, Halifax’s rental vacancy rate had fallen to 1% - despite population growth ~only~ being 2% for a couple years
Deny,
Where are these people sleeping?
Another awesome article, Deny, and good on you for speaking at council this week. Us supporters were few, but we were impassioned.