One of the crucial housing issues facing Calgarians and Canadians is the rise of the two-income family, which has driven up the price and size of homes, to the point where single-income families and individuals can’t compete. Since the middle of the 20th century, the number of two-income families in Canada has risen dramatically. The latest Stats Canada numbers I could find documented from 1975 to 2015 the number of two-income families increased to 69 per cent from 36 per cent.
The emergence of the two-income family corresponds with the evolution of the family house from a one-storey bungalow to a two-storey home, with two or more bathrooms, as well as the two-car garage. Even the family car evolved from the one-storey station wagon to the two-storey van and then SUV. Today, it is almost impossible for single-income families (unless their single income is very high) to buy a house (detached, duplex or townhouse) as the prices have been driven up in part by the abundance of two-income families who have the ability and willingness to pay more.
The same is true for single young professionals and single seniors. And this is the case for both home ownership and rentals, unless you go to the extreme edges of the city. While more purpose-built rentals are being built today, they too are being taken by the two-income families, young professional couples and empty nesters, leaving single-income Calgarians (Canadians) struggling to afford the rents.
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