Comprehensive Delta community profile published

A comprehensive report published today, United Way British Columbia Delta Community Profile, breaks down population, economic and social statistics in five neighbourhoods in Delta: Ladner, North Delta East, North Delta West, Sunshine Hills and Tsawwassen. With relatively high incomes, relatively low unemployment and crime rates, and a stable growth rate, Delta appears to be a good place to live. But like most regions of the Lower Mainland, there is poverty: there are 2,700 children under the age of 18 who are living in low-income households. The Delta Community Profile includes information on:

• Population (demographics, growth trends, languages spoken)
• Economic factors (income, unemployment rates, education, housing)
• Social factors (homelessness, family structure, childhood vulnerability, causes of death)
• Data on calls handled by bc211, the 24/7 multilingual social service help line that United Way funds

  In 2015, United Way invested $570,000 dollars in Delta funding 28 organizations that deliver 35 programs and services to residents. Programs and services supported by United Way include early childhood development, after-school programs, senior support, refugee support, and food security. “Neighbourhood-specific research like this helps not only United Way but also municipalities, school districts and other social service organizations plan for the future,” said Michael McKnight, President & CEO, United Way British Columbia. “Research like this allows United Way to make smart community investments.” This is the fourth Community Profile published by United Way over the past year. United Way’s Surrey/White Rock Community Profile was published in September, Richmond Community Profile in December, and Tri-Cities Community Profile was published in the spring. Delta Community Profile Highlights Population

• Delta’s population in 2011 was 99,863 residents. From 2001 to 2011, the city experienced a 3% growth rate, relatively low when compared to Surrey (35% growth rate from 2001 to 2011. Population projections estimate that by 2041, 123,000 people will live in Delta.
• 25% of Delta’s population are children – just slightly less than Surrey at 26%.
• 29% of residents of Delta are foreign-born.
• The top five languages spoken by Delta School District students at home are English (78.9%); Punjabi (11.3%); Mandarin (1.7%); Hindi 1.5%; and other, 3.9%.
• From 2007 to 2011, 4,240 babies were born in the Delta area representing a live birth rate of 8.45 (births per 1000 population).
• The Aboriginal population in Delta is 2.3% of the total population, not including Tsawwassen Lands First Nation which has a population of 720. Delta’s Aboriginal population increased by over 50 per cent from 1,495 to 2,290 from 2001 to 2011.

  Economic indicators

• The median family income in Delta was $94,007, almost $15,000 higher than that of Metro Vancouver at $80,006.
• There are 10,105 Delta residents living in low income situations, and of them 12.4% are children under the age of 18.  Almost half of the children in low income households live in North Delta East.
• The top three occupations in Delta were: sales and service (23.3%); business, finance and administration (17.4%); trades, transport and equipment operators (14.8%).
• The total apartment vacancy rate is .6%, which is lower than the Metro Vancouver rate of .8%.

  Social indicators

• Crime rates in Delta are low: violent crime rate is 2%; property crime 4.5%; vehicle theft 2.7%.

  Calls for assistance to the bc211 help line

• In 2015, there were 436 calls to bc211 from Delta. The top reasons for calls were housing and homelessness; income & financial assistance; health; government services; and mental health.

  Delta Community Profile Data sources: 2011 Census; bc211; UBC HELP.