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Shelter Plan

Monday, 21 October 2013 05:30

County Working hard to address affordable housing needs

More affordable housing is a badly needed commodity in Oxford County.

The Human Services Department is hoping to create a clearer picture of the need as they start on developing a 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan. 

Human Services Director Paul Beaton says there are many decisions that need to be made.  "You know, we have a very large stock that we currently own.  Some of it is 40 and 50-years-old.  So how are we going to regenerate some of those projects?  Whether we continue to repair them or sell them off and build new, there's a need for more affordable housing."

Beaton says the waiting list for affordable housing has now grown to over 1000.

He also says more rent geared to income housing is needed for seniors as the population continues to grow older.  "We hope to hear from the seniors who are reaching the age where they are giving up their homes and need a more affordable, more suitable accomodation.  We're seeing a lot more seniors on our waiting lists for rent geared to income.  We know that any of the affordable housing projects we've built for seniors are 100% occupied with waiting lists."

The "Housing and Homelessness Plan" is mandated by the province, and will start with a County Council workshop next week.  That will be followed by a public survey asking about housing needs in the community.

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