Housing
Click a link below to get more information on our committees, helpful links, and regional initiatives.
Housing affordability isn't the only issue creating a 'housing crisis' in our communities. Availability of housing stock, improperly sized of housing - from too small to too large, the condition of available housing stock, and barriers to new builds and development are just some of the other issues impacting our access to affordable, safe housing.
To address the issue of housing in the Mount Waddington region, in 2019 the MWHN - a grassroots group of Government, First Nations, Social Service Organizations, Seniors, Health Authorities and Private Citizens - and our regional partners met over the course of six months to discuss a housing strategy. Under the leadership of BC Healthy Communities, six major actions were crafted and recommended for immediate implementation. Work has progressed since then, and we have many people and organizations coming together in community to make meangingful progress on solving our regions' housing crisis.
Read on to learn about some of the actions of the many stakeholders in housing!
2019 MW Housing Strategy: 6 Main Action Items
1. Conduct Regional Housing Needs Report (Done)
2. Implement Regional Housing Coalition (Underway!)
PENDING:
3. Create Funding Guide for Local Governments and Non-Profits
4. Develop Local Government Housing Toolkit
5. Facilitate Ready, Set, Build! Training
6. Ongoing Monitoring and Relationship Building
Housing: 2021 Initatives
LINKS
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In the News: MWHN Housing Strategy
2021 Housing & Homelessness Survey: A Service Needs Assessment
TAKE OUR SURVEY HERE >> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XQT73T3
Homelessness is the situation of an individual, family or community without stable, safe, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means and ability of acquiring it.
Homelessness is most often the result of systemic or societal barriers, domestic violence, a lack of affordable and appropriate housing, the individual/ household’s financial, mental, cognitive, behavioural or physical challenges, and/or racism and discrimination. Most people do not choose to be homeless, and the experience is generally negative, unpleasant, stressful and distressing. (ARDN Guide to Estimating Rural Homelessness, 2019)
The Mount Waddington 2020 Housing Needs Assessment flagged the fact we don't have a lot of data recognizing the conditions around housing insecurity. With the assistance of the Alberta Rural Development Network, the Mount Waddington Health Network planned a rural homeless count. TAKE OUR SURVEY HERE >> https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XQT73T3
2021 Seniors & Elders Housing Questionnaire
This survey is in draft format! We are taking feedback from community partners until April 7th, 2021. TAKE OUR DRAFT SURVEY HERE & LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK >>>
Housing: 2020 Initatives
2020 Mount Waddington Housing Needs Assessment
Community Collaboration
In 2018, the Province of British Columbia passed Bill 18 which requires each local government to collect data, analyze trends and prepare a report that identifies current and anticipated housing needs, for the purpose of considering these needs when creating policy and making decisions about development. Each local government has until April of 2022 to complete the initial housing needs report which must be updated every five years thereafter.
Through the housing needs report process, local governments will examine such things as:
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Population trends (Who is living in our communities? How fast is the population increasing?)
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Affordability (How much does it cost to live here?)
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Future demand (Who will live here in the future, where will they live and in what types of housing will they live?)
Housing: 2019 Initatives
2019 Mount Waddington Housing Strategy
Community Collaboration
Addressing housing across the Mount Waddington Region is a complicated and exciting challenge for local, regional, and first nations governments, non-profits, and health authorities. This strategy is a result of community engagement, recommends six key projects that can direct the resources of the Health Network and inform collaborative action to address housing deficits across Mount Waddington over the next three years.
