Good housing is hard to find. Here's how to help.
By Contributor
Rental housing in our region is hard to find. Affordability is an added issue – and the Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society (LCAHS) wants to help. To do that, the Society first needs to gain a clearer and more up-to-date understanding of rental housing challenges in Rossland, Warfield, Trail, Montrose, Fruitvale, Areas A and B of the RDKB, and surrounding communities.
To build that better understanding, LCAHS is gathering information. Everyone in the area — renters or homeowners, employees or employers, of every age group – can help by answering a survey that is now open and will remain open until August 15. Please click on the link at the bottom and share your wisdom.
The survey asks about current housing circumstances, rental challenges, affordability, preferred unit types and sizes, and future housing priorities. The LCAHS will use the survey responses to help identify priority housing needs, inform early planning for future attainable rental housing initiatives, strengthen funding applications and support discussions with potential partners, municipalities and funders.
Existing reports and community conversations have identified continuing concerns about rental availability and affordability, but LCAHS is seeking more detailed information about who is being affected, what types of rental housing are needed, what people can reasonably afford, and which locations and housing features matter most.
The broader housing needs study also includes interviews with major employers, local real estate professionals and other community organizations. These conversations are intended to provide additional insight into rental supply, market conditions, recruitment and retention challenges, relocation needs, commuting patterns and the housing experiences of different groups across the region.
Every set of answers will help build a more complete picture of people’s needs and how best to work toward meeting them, and the LCAHS is grateful for all responses to the survey – and for the support for this initiative provided by Kootenay Savings Credit Union Community Fund and the Lower Columbia Community Development Team Society (LCCDTS).
Here’s the link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S5QPXDB
