Richard Froese
South Peace News
A study to assess new affordable housing options within Big Lakes County will benefit families and citizens and is much needed, the reeve says.
“Big Lakes County is proud to be part of the Enabling Housing Choice North Project, part of the Rural Development Network’s Sustainable Housing Initiative,” Reeve Tyler Airth says in an RDN news release Feb. 26.
At its regular meeting Feb. 12, council agreed to proceed with the project in partnership with RDN.
“Addressing housing needs is crucial to the well-being of our residents and this project will help ensure that we can provide diverse, affordable and sustainable housing options for years to come,” Airth says.
“As part of council’s strategic plan, we are committed to being a place where people want to live and can afford to live, while also fostering sustainable economic growth.
“Diverse housing is a key component of the vision and partnering with the RDN and the Enabling Housing Choice North Project allows us to invest in a more sustainable future for Big Lakes County.”
Big Lakes is one of several northern Alberta municipalities selected to partner in the one-year project at no cost to council.
The RDN has received money from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation to provide consulting services at no cost.
During the project, the RDN has set goals to:
- Identify opportunities for enabling housing choice in Big Lakes through research and analysis.
- Understand what types of housing best serve the needs of the community.
- Increase affordability and availability of diverse housing in Big Lakes.
RDN is a non-profit organization that collaborates with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada to identify and bring focus to local issues, and develop innovative solutions to social and economic challenges.
RDN executive director Lisa Belanger says the northern project will be valuable to strengthen local regions.
“The project is a unique opportunity to respond to the housing challenges facing communities in northern Alberta,” Belanger says.
“We are excited to work with Big Lakes County to research and identify solutions that promote affordable and diverse housing options.
“This partnership highlights the importance of local input and collaboration in addressing complex housing needs.”
The EHCN team will research and analyze current bylaws and policies to assess support for housing diversity and promote community engagement.
Through surveys, interviews with developers and local businesses and focus group discussions with employers and residents, the project will collect valuable feedback, she says.
Data collected will be shared with council and partner municipalities to create housing solutions