Housing costs worry BC students most

The high cost of homes in British Columbia tops the list of concerns of post-secondary students in the province.

A poll by Insights West shows that 30 per cent of students rank housing costs as their main concern, beating job opportunities (28 per cent) and pipelines and the environment (12 per cent).

Around half of respondents said that they will not remain living in the area in which they are studying once they graduate, with around half of those citing housing costs as the main reason.

The survey was carried out ahead of provincial government elections and reveals that students want housing affordability to be a key promise from politicians.

“Post-secondary students have identified housing and job opportunities as their key electoral issues,” says Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs at Insights West. “It will be crucial for contending parties in this year’s provincial election to offer concrete policies that will sway this group, which voted in droves during the last federal ballot.”

The research also reveals concerns among 38 per cent of respondents who have taken out loans to cover tuition and living costs with 70 per cent of those worried about repaying their debts.

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