The South Okanagan has a number of unique characteristics which provide important context
to the study of homelessness in the region. A profile of the region is provided below.
3.1) General Characteristics
The South Okanagan is part of BC’s Okanagan Valley and is located in the southern interior of the province.
The geographic boundaries utilized for the purposes of this study were those of the South Okanagan Local Health Area (#14).
It is bordered by the community of Penticton to the north and the international border with the United States to the South.
The area includes the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve, which runs along the eastern side of the valley between Oliver and Osoyoos.
The total land area is approximately 1200 square kilometers (BC Stats, 2004).
The South Okanagan is a largely rural area. It includes the communities of Okanagan Falls, Oliver and Osoyoos.
The total population in 2003 was 18,437 persons. The two largest communities, Oliver and Osoyoos, make up less than half of
the total population (BC Stats, 2004).
The South Okanagan is considered a very attractive place to live, with one of the warmest and most arid climates
in the country. The area lies at the northern tip of the Sonoran Desert, which extends south to Mexico, and it is considered
to be Canada’s only desert region. Thousands of tourists flock to the region every year during the summer months to
soak up the sunshine, enjoy the beaches and water sport opportunities, and tour local wineries. It has also become a destination
for retirees looking for a moderate climate without the humidity and cost of living of Victoria, another popular retiree destination.
(Oliver and Osoyoos Chambers of Commerce websites)
3.2) The People
While the presence of visible minorities is substantially lower than the provincial average (7.4% in the region
compared to 21.6% in the province), the area has been impacted by successive waves of immigration (BC Stats, 2004). An early
wave of immigration saw many families and individuals from Europe come to the area to operate orchards and farms. A more recent
wave has seen many families and individuals from South Asia come to the area to be involved in agriculture. While these most
recent immigrants make up a relatively small portion of the total population, the fact that many are young families is having
a substantial impact. Anecdotal information from school district staff suggests that as many as 30% of grade one classes in
certain South Okanagan schools
are made up of visible minorities. Persons of Aboriginal descent make up 4.5% of the population (BC Stats: 2004).
The age structure of the population is significantly older than that of the rest of the province, with only
16% of the population between the ages of 0 and 17 (compared to a provincial average of 21%) and almost 30% of the population
over 65 years of age (compared to a provincial average of 13.5%) (Statistics Canada, 2001). The number of lone parent households
is 26.7%, just above the provincial average of 25.7% (BC Stats, 2004).
3.3) The Economy, Employment & Income
Approximately 11% of the total population relies on agriculture for their income, compared to the provincial
average of just 2%. In addition, 22% of the labor force is involved in the production of primary goods (such as food) compared
to the provincial average of just 4.6% (BC Stats, 2004). However, much of the work in the local agricultural sector is seasonal
in nature, occurring primarily during the months of May to October. Tourism is another significant industry in the South Okanagan
and is also primarily a seasonal employer. In recent years, the wine industry has become a significant employer of seasonal
agricultural workers.
The region experiences an influx of seasonal workers every summer to meet the demand in the agriculture industry.
A large portion of those seasonal workers have traditionally been young persons from Quebec. However, the number of young
people coming from Quebec each year appears to be declining and the agriculture industry has begun to search out other sources
of seasonal labor. One potential source being explored is migrant workers from Mexico. There is some anecdotal evidence provided
by employment preparation agencies in the area that seasonal workers who migrate to the region end up staying year round.
Family income levels in the region are substantially below that of the provincial average ($46,180 compared
to $64,821 per year). In addition to this, there appears to be a significant disparity between the richest and poorest households
in the region. The wealthiest half of the population shares 75% of the income earned in the region. Government transfers to
individuals and families, including EI, income assistance and supports to seniors, makes up 27.4% of the total income earned,
compared to just 11.8% for the province as a whole. The most recent available statistics for the entire South Okanagan/Similkameen
region (which includes Penticton) indicate that 7.9% of the population is receiving either income assistance or unemployment
insurance benefits, compared to 5.4% for the province as a whole. (BC Stats, 2004)
3.4) Housing
The percentage of individuals renting accommodations in 2001 was 24%, well below the provincial average of 33.7%.
The average cost of rent at that time was $586, compared to $750 for the province as a whole. (BC Stats, 2004).
There is very little reliable data on the availability of housing in the region. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing
Corporation (CMHC) only publishes rental market reports for larger centres, such as Kelowna. However, economic activity in
all of the communities of the South Okanagan has picked up in recent years and this has been reflected in both housing starts
and housing prices. In Penticton, a city of approximately 32,000 just north of the area being studied, sales of single detached
homes have increased 21% in the past year, and the median price for homes has increased 51% (CMHC, 2005). While this does
not provide any direct indication of the housing situation in the communities to the south of Penticton, all of the communities
in the Okanagan Valley are closely linked. It is likely that increases in the cost of housing are being experienced in the
south and this may be impacting both the availability and cost of rental properties.
