Whistler Housing Authority (WHA)

What Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) does

The Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) is an independent, municipally owned non-profit corporation created by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) to develop, administer, and manage employee-restricted housing in Whistler, British Columbia. Founded over 25 years ago and operating with a 6-person administrative staff, WHA serves a single, narrowly defined customer base: qualified Whistler employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week for a Qualified Whistler Business, plus retirees who completed 10 of the last 12 years in such employment, and seniors aged 55+. The organization's mandate is to ensure that 75% or more of Whistler's workforce can live locally, addressing the acute affordability gap in a resort community where market-rate housing is largely inaccessible to service workers.

WHA operates two core programs. The Rental Program provides 375 long-term rental units distributed across approximately 13 properties (including the 104-unit Sitka & Cedar completed in July 2026, 53-unit Nester's Pond, 57-unit Beaver Flats, 55-unit Chiyakmesh, and others), with rents set at 30% of tenant gross household income subject to per-property minimum and maximum rate bands ($963–$4,215/month). The Ownership Program administers 1,001 price-restricted units (apartments, townhomes, duplexes, and single-family homes) sold to eligible employees via a waitlist, with resale prices capped to Core Consumer Price Index (CCPI) appreciation formulas rather than market appreciation. Supporting programs include the Home Run property-matching service for the broader private sector (an additional 743 private rentals and 202 ownership properties carry employee occupancy restrictions), the Seniors Housing Program (Lumina rental and Solana ownership priority for 55+), and tenant/buyer educational resources.

WHA is not a market-rate business. Its revenue mechanics are rent-geared-to-income (capped below-market rates) plus minor transactional fees on ownership resales, with operating shortfalls and capital development funded through RMOW municipal contributions, BC Housing provincial funding (notably the BC Builds program), and joint development partnerships (e.g., Whistler 2020 Development Corporation for Sitka & Cedar). The technology stack is non-proprietary—standard property management software, the Arcori-based Applicant Portal, FormStack for occupancy declarations, and hCaptcha for bot protection. Distribution is entirely waitlist-based, first-come, first-served, with no sales-led or marketing-driven acquisition motion. Current expansion includes 104 units delivered in 2026 and 125 units expected in 2027, representing roughly a 61% increase in WHA-owned rental inventory.

Name

Whistler Housing Authority (WHA)

Legal name

Whistler Housing Authority

Website

https://whistlerhousing.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) is a municipally owned non-profit corporation administering 2,500+ employee-restricted rental and ownership housing units for qualified Whistler, BC workforce, with rent-geared-to-income pricing and price-restricted resale covenants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Workforce Housing

NAICS

Lessors of Residential Buildings and Dwellings (53111), Services to Buildings and Dwellings (5617)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)

akta.pro primary industry

Build-to-Rent (BTR) Community Management (BPAJAFAC)

Keywords

• Employee housing programs
• Affordable rental housing
• Workforce housing solutions
• Rent-geared-to-income
• Price-restricted ownership

Headquarters

HQ city

Whistler

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Rental Income: WHA generates rental revenue from tenants in its 375 owned rental properties. Rental rates are calculated at 30% of tenant's gross household income (rent-geared-to-income), subject to minimum and maximum rate limits per property. This creates below-market rental rates for eligible employees.
2. Ownership Program Resales: WHA manages 1,001 ownership units sold to eligible employees at price-restricted amounts. Resale prices are tied to appreciation formulas (Core Consumer Price Index), not market rates. The organization facilitates transactions but does not profit from sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WHA provides employee-restricted rental and ownership housing programs exclusively for qualified Whistler employees and retirees. The rental program offers 375+ long-term rental units at rent-geared-to-income rates (30% of gross household income, subject to minimum and maximum limits), while the ownership program manages 1,001 price-restricted ownership units with resale values capped by Core Consumer Price Index appreciation. Both programs are allocated through first-come, first-served waitlists with eligibility tied to employment with Qualified Whistler Businesses.

Product overview

The Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) operates two core housing programs for Whistler's workforce: the Employee Housing Rental Program (375+ long-term rental units with rent-geared-to-income pricing at 30% of gross household income) and the Employee Housing Ownership Program (1,001 price-restricted ownership units with resale limits tied to CCPI). Current major developments include Sitka & Cedar (104 rental units, move-in August 2026) and 1600 Mount Fee Road (125 rental units, expected late 2027). Additional programs include Home Run (property matching for workforce housing), Seniors Housing Program (priority for 55+), and extensive legal/covenant documentation resources. The total employee-restricted housing inventory exceeds 2,500 units (1,256 rentals and 1,205 ownership) dedicated to Whistler's workforce.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Employee Housing Rental Program WHA manages an inventory of 375 long-term rental units throughout Whistler available to qualified Whistler employees through a first-come, first-served Rental Waitlist. Rental rates are based on 30% of gross household income (subject to minimum and maximum limits). Unit selection is restricted by household size. Occupancy standards require 1-2 people per bedroom.
• Employee Housing Ownership Program WHA manages 1,001 price-restricted ownership properties sold to qualified Whistler employees via Ownership Waitlist. Properties have covenants requiring employee occupancy and restrictions on maximum resale amounts tied to Core Consumer Price Index (CCPI). Additional 202 properties in Whistler have employee occupancy restrictions.
• Sitka & Cedar Rental Housing Project WHA's largest rental project (104 units) in Cheakamus Crossing, developed by Whistler 2020 Development Corporation with joint investment from BC Housing, RMOW, and WHA. Two- and three-bedroom units designed for families and roommate groups. Move-in scheduled for August 1, 2026.
• 1600 Mount Fee Road Rental Housing Project 125-unit rental development under construction in Cheakamus Crossing: 20 three-bedroom townhomes plus 105-unit apartment building. Construction through 2026-2027 with tenants expected late 2027. Part of BC Builds program with BC Housing funding.
• WHA Rental Properties (Rental Inventory) WHA owns and operates 375 rental properties including: Sitka & Cedar (104 units), The Hemlocks (48 units), Granite Ridge (45 units), Legacy Passive House (24 units), Lumina (20 units), Cloudburst Court (27 units), Balsam Way (2 units), Nita Lake Rental (10 units), Lorimer Court (14 units), Nester's Pond (53 units), Nordic Court (20 units), Chiyakmesh (55 units), Beaver Flats (57 units). Total breakdown: 95 studios, 100 one-bedrooms, 121 two-bedrooms, 10 three-bedrooms, 1 single family. Includes 18 Accessible and 46 Adaptable units.
• WHA Ownership Properties (Ownership Inventory) 1,001 WHA ownership properties ranging from Studio Condominiums to Single Family Homes: Apartments (254 units), Townhomes (512 units), Duplexes (115 units), Single Family (106 units). Includes properties in Glacier Ridge, Nineteen Mile Creek, Fitzsimmons Walk, Bear Ridge, Beaver Flats Duplexes, Barnfield, Gondola Six, Lakecrest, Millar's Ridge, Nita Lake Residences, Rainbow Duplexes, Rainbow Single Family Homes, Spruce Grove Town Houses, The Falls, The Heights, The Lofts, The Rise, The Springs, The Terrace, Whitewater, Solana, Spruce Grove Single Family Homes, 1340 & 1360 Mount Fee Road, The Landing.
• Home Run Program Property rental matching program administered by WHA and managed by a licensed property manager. Connects property owners with property for rent to Whistler businesses for workforce housing solutions. Property owners can select full property management service or tenant placement service with no upfront out-of-pocket fees.
• WHA Seniors Housing Program Housing programs supporting Whistler's actively working seniors and retired workforce over age 55. Rental: Lumina building at 8350 Bear Paw Trail with seniors priority. Ownership: Solana building and select units in The Falls with seniors priority (age 55+ ranked by age). Eligibility requires 10 of last 12 years full-time work for Whistler Business or transition from full-time to part-time work.
• The Landing Ownership Townhouses Employee-restricted ownership townhouse development at 2077 Garibaldi Way in Nordic, Whistler. 14 three-bedroom townhouses with 2.5 bathrooms, balcony, storage space, in-home laundry, and single-car garage. Prices range from $845,200 to $852,000. Resales offered to WHA Ownership Waitlist.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,500+ beds of affordable housing for workforce
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Whistler 2020 Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2026Joint development partner for Sitka & Cedar rental project. WDC developed the 104-unit project in Cheakamus Crossing, delivered to WHA for employee housing inventory. This represents a core partnership for new housing development in Whistler.
• Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 October 2025Parent municipal corporation. RMOW created WHA to oversee development, administration and management of employee-restricted housing. WHA collects occupancy declarations on behalf of RMOW, and RMOW bylaw department enforces housing covenant compliance.
• Mountain Country Property ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProperty management partner handling day-to-day operations of WHA rental units. Responsible for general building management, tenant communication, and after-hours emergency maintenance (1-866-760-2418). Contact: [email protected]
• Whistler Community Services SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing local support resources. WHA references WCSS as resource for new residents through the Whistler Navigator publication.
• Whistler Mature Action Community (MAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for senior housing opportunities. WHA partners with MAC on housing opportunities for seniors, supporting vision of inclusive, supportive community where residents can age in place.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WhistlerHousingAuthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whistlerhousing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Whistler Housing Authority (WHA)