Summerside launches attainable housing task force
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SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Six months from now, Summerside ought to have a greater concept as to how it’ll take care of its housing disaster.
Town formally launched its new Process Power on Attainable Housing on March 2, the place it launched the individuals who will shepherd the work on this more and more vital challenge.
The group is made up of 12 members and one facilitator, representing a cross-section of individuals concerned within the housing business. The duty power was a marketing campaign promise made by Mayor Dan Kutcher.
The group, whose members embody builders, policymakers, non-profit group teams and elected officers, has six months to do its work and are available again to town council with an inventory of suggestions. The plan is to learn how Summerside can’t solely improve its housing inventory but additionally make accessing that housing extra possible, stated Kutcher.
He added that he’s assured the group has the expertise to try this.
“What we’ve carried out right here is … join our shared problem with our native experience,” stated Kutcher.
“So, we’re getting the individuals who know what they’re speaking about exterior of metropolis corridor related to the individuals who know what’s occurring inside metropolis corridor. Getting them collectively and giving them a transparent, easy mandate with a stable timeline.”
Summerside’s development projections present town wants at the least one other 1,000 housing models within the subsequent 15 years. Conversely, P.E.I. had only a 0.8 per cent rental emptiness charge in 2022.
Susan DesRoche is likely one of the co-founders of Summerside’s solely girls’s shelter, LifeHouse, and now a member of the brand new process power. She believes she brings a “boots on the bottom” perspective to the group.
“I see those who’re struggling. I work with them,” stated Desroche. “We’re seeing our shoppers are on a regular basis folks. It may very well be a senior who can’t pay her hire as a result of her subsidy just isn’t excessive sufficient, or there’s nowhere else to go.
“The entire housing (state of affairs) is horrifying.”
DesRoche stated she wish to see Summerside encourage the development of different housing, like tiny houses.
“One thing new, one thing reasonably priced, one thing vitality environment friendly. We are likely to see prosperity as having a giant house with a lot of fancy issues. However actually, we simply want a pleasant little area, a roof over our head, some meals within the fridge and a few consolation,” stated DesRoche.
“I feel this process power is extraordinarily well timed and vital,” added Satyajit Sen, an adviser for the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities with a give attention to land development-related coverage. He’s one other process power member.
“Between 2016 and 2021 (P.E.I.) misplaced 39 acres per day, on common. We will’t afford to try this. We have to construct the wanted quantity, however we have to construct in additional sustainable methods, so we don’t lose our land. Our land is essentially the most helpful useful resource.”
Kutcher stated there was a lot curiosity from the group within the process power and despite the fact that everybody who utilized couldn’t be a member, the group will hear shows from a number of group teams and stakeholders.
There may even be a chance for enter from the broader public and extra particulars can be forthcoming on how that can be achieved as the method unfolds.
Summerside Process Power on Attainable Housing members:
Chair:
Facilitator:
Members at giant:
- Coun. Justin Doiron
- Coun Bruce MacDougall
- Sam Sanderson, normal supervisor of the Development Affiliation of P.E.I.
- Pam Montgomery, CEO of Habitat for Humanity P.E.I.
- David Arsenault, proprietor and president of Arsenault Properties
- Susan DesRoche, co-founder of LifeHouse Transitional Shelter
- Satyajit Sen, coverage advisor for the Federation of P.E.I. Municipalities
- Rev. Andrew Richardson, group chief
- Corey Ross, Realtor Century 21
- Robert Duffy – president of Duffy Development
- Jody Sentner, co-ordinator of LifeHouse Transitional Shelter
Colin MacLean is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He could be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @JournalPMacLean.
