07 Mar Vital People/Vital Causes March 2025

Drawing on key data and themes from our Vital Signs 2024 report, we will continue presenting a new Vital People/Vital Causes every quarter this year.

Vital Cause: Housing Issues for Seniors

In 2025, housing remains one of the most pressing issues on the Sunshine Coast. With a growing seniors population and a limited supply of affordable and accessible housing, finding solutions is critical.

The Sunshine Coast Foundation’s Vital Signs 2024 highlights the population 75 and over grew by 25% between 2016 and 2021. While more than 85% of seniors owned their homes in 2021, many single-family homes on the Coast are not suited for an aging population, and the region is lacking in the types of housing options for single-family home owners, in particular seniors, looking to downsize.

With limited rental and supportive housing options, many seniors are at risk of housing insecurity. In fact, Vital Signs 2024 reports that 2023’s Homeless Count found 24% of individuals experiencing homelessness in Sechelt or Gibsons were 55 and older.

Vital People – Kelly Foley and Andrew Bate

Addressing the housing crisis requires both long-term planning and immediate action. Kelly Foley and Andrew Bate are both tackling this issue.

Cover the Coast is an initiative of the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society (SCHAS). Kelly is the Sunshine Coast Housing Coordinator for Cover the Coast and her work on their 2023 report identifies seniors housing as a high priority issue. The report reveals that 77% of seniors live in single detached houses and have minimal options for downsizing to suitable housing. Furthermore, almost 1,400 seniors are renters and 13% are low income, with many being unable to find housing that they can afford.

“A home is more than just four walls – it’s dignity, stability, and community. My role with Cover the Coast is to bring together non-profit housing providers, local government, and industry experts to develop innovative housing solutions, working toward a future where everyone on the Sunshine Coast has a place to call home,” shared Kelly.

Many seniors prefer to stay in their homes as they age, but doing so often requires modifications. Andrew Bate, owner of Andrew Bate Design, has almost three decades of experience working in construction. His work specializes in renovations that help seniors age in place by integrating accessibility features and designing homes that can adapt to changing needs.

“We can support older adults who want to stay in their homes as they age by enhancing accessibility and adding a secondary suite for a caregiver or family member,” Bate explains.

To create ongoing revenue for housing initiatives, Kelly and Andrew established the Bate & Foley Family Endowment to End Homelessness in 2016.

Over the last 20+ years, the Foundation has supported a wide range of local charitable organizations tackling housing insecurity in our community, including a $60,000 grant to SCAHS’s Shaw Place project, a much-needed rental housing unit for safe and secure living for families, seniors and individuals.

While the housing crisis is a long-term challenge to address, Vital People like Kelly Foley and Andrew Bate, are creating paths forward for housing insecure people on the Coast.

If this Vital Cause speaks to you, consider making a gift to one of our many funds aimed at supporting housing and homeownership needs on the Coast, like the Bate & Foley Family Endowment to End Homelessness.

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Interview and article by Lisa Furfaro.