The Kenora District Services Board has released an updated 10-year housing and homelessness plan.
The new document better reflects the current realities and changing environment.
Chief Administrative Officer Henry Wall says the update strengthens the KDSB strategy on emergency shelters, transitional housing, supported living, affordable housing, and private market housing.
Wall says when the plan was released in 2014 they had less than 400 households waiting for affordable housing and five years later the number was close to 1,400.
“Why are we seeing such an increase in families and individuals in need of affordable housing and also using the update as an opportunity to really look back saying what has changed in our communities and how do we actually work together to address our housing crisis.”
Wall says the revamped strategy has a heavy focus on forming community partnerships to address the crisis.
“A significant emphasis on working in partnership with our First Nation partners. Working in partnership with our First Nation communities. To address the housing crisis, not just in our municipalities but also in other communities.”
Wall says they want to ensure that any new housing development includes a sense of inclusion and a sense of belonging to the community.
He notes substantial progress has been made since the first housing/homelessness plan unveiled seven years ago including:
-Many efficiency and accessibility upgrades to exisiting housing stock
-Divesting underutilized housing stock to reinvest in high demand areas
-New Affordable Housing Developments through the District of Kenora
-New emergency homeless shelter in Kenora
-New Memorandum of Understanding with Kenora Chiefs’ Advisory
-New Memorandum of Understanding with Nishnawbe Aski Nation
-New Memorandum of Understanding with Windigo First Nations Council
-Supportive Housing in Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Kenora
-Transitional Housing in Red Lake
-Create new partnerships in the Health and Justice services sector
To hear more about the nine-point plan from Henry Wall, visit the Audio link below.
