Officials and business people from Huron, Bruce, and Grey counties are offering their suggestions for the province’s new long-term affordable housing strategy.
A consultation meeting was held in Kincardine Tuesday by Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell.
She says suggestions from the group included the need for more housing units, flexibility in how new units are developed and planned, and better education of residents.
Mitchell says there were calls for a cross section of new housing types and for community needs to be respected — instead of “cookie cutter” solutions being imposed by the province.
Developer David Brown is in the process of starting a 10 million dollar housing development in Ripley and is looking at more projects in Kincardine and Port Elgin.
Brown says he has past experience with developing affordable housing units and hopes his local projects qualify for support through affordable housing programs that are in place now.
Huron County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Kevin Morrison wishes more background information on housing programs had been provided at the consultation session.
He says when it comes to affordable housing, there needs to be accountability between all levels of government.
Morrison says they all need to start talking to each other and make changes in a positive direction.
Bruce County Housing Services Manager Susan Earle would like to see more private sector involvement in developing affordable housing.
Earle says she’s seen great ideas from developers on how to create more affordable housing — and incentives are needed to get them more involved in the community and stimulate the local economy.
