The Whistler Centre for Sustainability, in partnership with BC Housing, is hosting a workshop in Cranbrook on November 3 to address the affordable housing challenge in small communities.

Affordable housing remains a challenge for communities large and small throughout B.C. Although the magnitude of affordable housing challenges in smaller communities may not be as significant as larger communities, the need for affordable housing still exists, particularly housing for middle to lower income earners.

This is certainly true in Cranbrook with a current 1.1% vacancy rate and a growing college with students needing accommodations.

While almost all communities in B.C. have policies in their Official Community Plans (OCPs) supporting the development of affordable housing, implementation of these policies and actually getting homes built remains a challenge.

A recent study by Columbia Basin Trust identified a pervasive gap in the affordable housing stock in the 25 municipalities studied in the Basin. The existing affordable housing stock of 3,356 units meets less than half of the identified need. By these estimates, between 3,315 and 4,206 new housing units across the affordable housing spectrum are needed.

The workshop will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 at the Cranbrook History Centre.

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