West Kelowna needs to build more than 10,000 new homes over the next 20 years.

Colliers Strategy and Consulting shared the findings of West Kelowna's Interim Housing Needs Assessment with council on Dec. 10. The report says 3,169 homes are needed in the next five years and 10,290 by 2044. It also highlights the need for 102 homes for people experiencing homelessness in the next five years.

Recent changes to provincial legislation require local governments to prepare Interim Housing Needs Reports by Jan. 1. These reports help communities understand their housing needs, including the demand for homes near transit and other infrastructure. They also document the city's progress in addressing housing needs since the last report in 2022. The Interim Report updates data on population growth, housing demand, and the city's efforts to address housing gaps. 

West Kelowna received $326,478 from the province in 2024 to meet these requirements. About $20,000 was used for the Interim Report, and the rest will go toward related activities like hiring staff or consultants.

In July, the province added West Kelowna to a list of 10 communities in the third round of housing targets. Under the program, the city must build at least 2,266 new homes in the next five years to meet legislative goals.

Note: This story has been edited to correct the number of housing units needed over the next 20 years to 10,290 as opposed to 13,459 as first reported.