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In 30 seconds
- Vernon added 468 net new homes from September 2025 to August 2026, beating its first year provincial target by 191.
- It has already reached 82% of its year two target and a quarter of its five year goal of 1,849 homes by August 2030.
- More than 90 affordable homes on 26th Avenue, and nearly 200 more in two other non-profit projects, are ready to build but have no funding.
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| net new homes in Vernon in the first target year | 468 |
| more than the year one target | 191 |
| homes required by August 2030 | 1,849 |
| homes approved but not yet built | 780 |
Ahead on the count
Council heard on November 10 that Vernon issued occupancy for 488 homes in the year to August 31, 2026, and lost 20 to demolition, for 468 net. That is 191 more than the first year target, and it already covers 82 per cent of what the province expects by the end of year two. Over five years the target is 1,849 homes.
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Year one target | 277 |
| Built in year one | 468 |
| Approved, not yet built | 780 |
| Five-year goal | 1,849 |
City of Vernon housing target progress report to council, November 10, 2026, as reported by the Vernon Morning Star. Year one target derived from the 468 homes built and the 191 surplus.
Where it stalls
City staff warned that the province's changes to the Community Housing Fund could make it hard to keep pace. Funding for affordable projects already under way was cancelled, and future rounds were put off with no date. The ministry says the program has not been cancelled, but it is not taking new applications.
Two examples were named. The Vernon Native Housing Society's project on 26th Avenue would deliver more than 90 affordable and attainable homes and lost its funding. Two other non-profit projects with nearly 200 homes between them have land, designs and approvals in place, and wait for money.
Planning director Roy Nuriel told council it is not clear how many of the 780 homes already approved will reach occupancy by August 2027, because only some have applied for building permits.
What it means for the trades
Market homes kept Vernon's builders busy this year. Affordable rental projects are the steadier work, because they are built when the money is there, not when the market is hot. Until a new funding source is found, the trades who would build those homes are waiting with them.
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How we did this
Figures come from the City of Vernon's progress report to council on November 10, 2026, as reported by the Vernon Morning Star and Castanet. The year one target of 277 is the 468 homes built minus the 191 surplus. The province's position on the fund is from the Vernon Morning Star's February report.
Vernon does not publish a building permit data feed, so this story has no permit chart of our own.