Affordable Housing -
making our community whole and strong
Safe, affordable housing is the foundation of communities and an essential part of "smart growth" and a healthy local economy. With a stable place to call home, people can build healthy families and communities. We all need to live in a safe, secure home we can afford.
Yet across all almost all incomes, it is not easy to find truly affordable housing. Those of us with moderate incomes, finding safe, affordable housing in North Cowichan and the entire region, is beyond challenging. For many it is currently impossible. And for those of us with lower incomes, they need to be more than precariously housed, or living rough.
We have a critical shortage of "non-market" housing for families, seniors and differently-abled adults. And market housing prices are out of reach of many more people here than four years ago. Assessments have skyrocketed.
This contributes to our region's unacceptably high level of child poverty and poverty in general.
North Cowichan rezoned two municipal lots six years ago, one on Sherman Road and another on Willow Street, to enable a partnership with the Community Land Trust that we expected would see affordable housing projects in both locations. CLT has completed plans and redone plans. BCHousing apparently considers the Sherman Rd development viable and is considering it outside of the regular intake process. Council has had to add upwards of $400k for this. BC Housing is not supporting Willow Street, Council has not yet determined next steps for that project.
In 2017 Council rezoned a number of private properties in support of multi-family projects (total units proposed - 444)
Amended the Zoning Bylaw to allow attached secondary suites in the (R2) and (R2-A) and Cliffs CD1 zones, and to reduce the min parcel area for an attached suite in the R1 and R3 zones from 650m2 to 450m2. This allows homeowners of about 2300 properties to develop an attached suite without paying $2500 for a rezoning application.
When a Council makes development decisions, they need to understand that what they do about housing directly affects everyone's health, safety, and overall well-being.
Yet across all almost all incomes, it is not easy to find truly affordable housing. Those of us with moderate incomes, finding safe, affordable housing in North Cowichan and the entire region, is beyond challenging. For many it is currently impossible. And for those of us with lower incomes, they need to be more than precariously housed, or living rough.
We have a critical shortage of "non-market" housing for families, seniors and differently-abled adults. And market housing prices are out of reach of many more people here than four years ago. Assessments have skyrocketed.
This contributes to our region's unacceptably high level of child poverty and poverty in general.
North Cowichan rezoned two municipal lots six years ago, one on Sherman Road and another on Willow Street, to enable a partnership with the Community Land Trust that we expected would see affordable housing projects in both locations. CLT has completed plans and redone plans. BCHousing apparently considers the Sherman Rd development viable and is considering it outside of the regular intake process. Council has had to add upwards of $400k for this. BC Housing is not supporting Willow Street, Council has not yet determined next steps for that project.
In 2017 Council rezoned a number of private properties in support of multi-family projects (total units proposed - 444)
Amended the Zoning Bylaw to allow attached secondary suites in the (R2) and (R2-A) and Cliffs CD1 zones, and to reduce the min parcel area for an attached suite in the R1 and R3 zones from 650m2 to 450m2. This allows homeowners of about 2300 properties to develop an attached suite without paying $2500 for a rezoning application.
When a Council makes development decisions, they need to understand that what they do about housing directly affects everyone's health, safety, and overall well-being.
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My Commitment
- Work to make North Cowichan a leader in an active network: government agencies, community groups, non-profits, businesses and philanthropists, all working together on housing. In 2017, a housing coalition of many partners was formed and much work is being done. - Investigate making municipal land available for non-market affordable housing - this happened when MNC gave two lots, one at Sherman and one at Willow St, to be dedicated for affordable housing. It is expected 115-120 units will be built in partnership with the Community Land Trust Foundation of BC. - Explore ways to encourage innovative affordable housing models such as co-housing, cooperative housing and equity co-ops. I would also like to see a way to support tiny homes in the valley. - Support the work of the Cowichan Housing Association. |
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