Article appeared in the June 9, 2011 issue of the Intlerlake Spectator…
The Arborg Bifrost Community Development Corporation (ABCDC) has been taking a cool and comprehensive look at what needs to happen to keep growth on track as it continues to examine the region’s needs and priorities. A housing needs assessment study is now well underway for Arborg-Bifrost.
“Everyone mentions housing,’ said Pat McCallum, Economic Development officer of ABCDC.
“Employers want to hire, but there is nowhere for people to live. We are not alone. Many rural communities are facing similar problems,” McCallum said.
McCallum explained that when people talk about housing, there are many types of housing that may be considered when planning: Apartments, single family dwellings, affordable housing, subsidized housing, assisted living, market housing, emergency shelters, etc.
“We have to find where in that continuum our need is the greatest. We need it to be defined and quantified. We need something that we can, basically, take to the bank,” she said.
McCallum has recently spent much of her time doing literature searches and meeting with developers to discuss costs of development. She has discovered that, these days, to build a 1,000 sq. ft. home, it costs $175,000 to $200,000, plus the expense of hooking up to services. The average cost of a new home has sky rocketed to $244,000, and the cost to build duplexes and town houses is also very expensive, according to McCallum’s research.
“The cost is beyond our market,’ she said.
This has prompted a comprehensive needs assessment study that will help point the way to the best course of action. The study will have four components:
1. Develop an inventory of what is currently for sale or rent, including basement suites in people’s homes, and do secondary research;
2. Meet with numerous housing stake holders, including social services, Manitoba Housing, immigration, regional health authorities, town and municipal officials, and others;
3. Survey people about their housing needs, including, those who commute to the area for jobs, people on waiting lists, immigrants, and others in the community;
4. Analyze the information and prepare a report.
“By Christmas we will be able to identify the priority needs…then we will look at our options,” McCallum said. “Then we can answer questions like, ‘Do we need government subsidized homes?’ or “Green homes?’ Maybe we need to look at new, creative designs.”
“We are trying to get a better snapshot of what is needed. We are trying to quantify it—how much we need, what kind of housing, the price range, and for whom. Hopefully, the report will tell us that. Then we can pass it on to developers and landlords. They can then take it to the bank. (The report) might help to attract new developers too,” she said.
