A change in direction
Published March 11, 2011
At the February 22nd Council meeting, Council passed on, what on the surface might seem like an ordinary distribution of a Provincial Government Grant, to Pioneer Housing Foundation. It was though, quite significant and let me explain why.
Pioneer Housing Foundation (PHF) is a corporation wholly owned by Strathcona County. Its mandate is to deliver housing to low and modest income seniors. It has capably carried out that role for a good number of years. Like most things in life, change comes as time passes and PHF is no different. For the past year, PHF’s Board of Directors has been discussing changing its mandate to include community housing. Why would we change our mandate after all these years? The impetus came primarily as the result of the new Capital Region Board plan which mandates that all capital region communities make inroads into the realm of community housing. In addition, whether we accept it or not, there are residents of Strathcona County who need such housing.
Rather than create a new community housing board, PHF felt it appropriate to approach Council to seek their input and guidance on the changing of their mandate. To make a long story short, Council agreed. With the approval of the Provincial Government, who has to approve these things, PHF’s mandate now includes community housing. Community housing will move toward addressing two key housing gaps in Strathcona County - affordable market rental housing and older non-seniors on AISH. Notwithstanding those target groups, this housing will be open to those households with low to modest incomes which are below the Core Needs Income Threshold. The rental will be below market. Criteria will be developed to assess who is eligible and Strathcona County residents will have priority.
The grant given by the County, which is provincial funds, was $5M. With that grant and dependent on approval of all permits and financing, PHF will build a 70 unit apartment located at the Silver Birch site on Sherwood Drive, right across from the RCMP Detachment. Given the grant and the funds that PHF will have to borrow, this project will be entirely self funding and no tax dollars, I stress again - no tax dollars will be used in either the capital or ongoing operational costs of the building.
At the onset of us moving towards changing our mandate, we made it very clear that we are not going to build a box and house people. The Board made it clear that this will have to be an attractive, functional building where the residents will be proud to call it home. As a preliminary step, an architect has been retained to formulate the design and the building will be professionally managed and maintained by very experienced PHF staff. We envision the apartment becoming an attractive part of the Silver Birch site.
Clearly the construction of this apartment is ground breaking in Strathcona County. I am sure there will be some growing pains like anything else but PHF and especially the staff are more than ready and able to meet the challenge!
Peter Wlodarczak
Councillor, Ward 4
780-464-8146
wlodarczak@strathcona.ab.ca.
Last updated: Thursday, March 10, 2011
Page ID: 7360