Who needs low-cost housing in this area? Who is doing something about meeting the need?
As a first step towards launching a low-income housing project of its own, the Creston Valley Community Housing Society (CVCHS) recognizes there should be an updated assessment of the total amount of such housing required in the valley and the number of people in various categories — seniors, single mothers, those with mental-health problems — within that total.
The CVCHS is in the process of applying for a grant to finance such an assessment.
At the same time, the CVCHS is aware that other groups are already providing affordable housing of various kinds in this area, or may be contemplating doing so. It also knows that funding agencies will require knowledge of such facilities and plans, for two reasons.
Firstly, they will want assurance that an assessment has provided a complete picture of the affordable-housing needs in this area.
Secondly, they will insist on knowing that funding for additional low-income housing will go to areas of greatest need and won’t result in the provision of facilities for those whose needs are already being met or are less urgent.
To satisfy the legitimate concerns of funding agencies on this score, the CVCHS suggests that all agencies and groups operating or planning low-rental housing in the valley should make each other aware of their activities currently and on a continuing basis.
The society is willing to act as a clearing house for such information and to help create a committee of some kind to facilitate co-operation and co-ordination among all involved groups in future. It sees such action as a vital step toward effectively tackling the desperate need for affordable housing in this area.
To start the ball rolling, representatives of all agencies who share that aim are invited to contact CVCHS president Alexandra Ewashen at 250-866-5585 or alexandramary@yahoo.ca, or secretary Jerry Cyr at 250-428-9990 or jmcyr2@shaw.ca.