CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – Residents are making themselves heard about the lack of affordable housing in Campbell River.
Through the Ideas Wall project, people had a platform to air their concerns.
Three “ideas walls” were put around the city, and people were free to write their ideas on how to make housing more affordable.
During Monday’s council meeting, Kristi Schwanicke and Libby King with the Campbell River Coalition to End Homelessness presented the results of the ideas walls and the drop-in session they held last month.
“Single-family homes are what people in Campbell River are living in now – that’s what they identify as their current housing. (But) people have lived in townhouses, lived in mobile home parks,” Libby King said.
King adds residents said their future housing needs are diverse, and that this housing diversity is what is missing in the city.
“The mix between what people are currently living in – single family homes – which is essentially what is available in Campbell River doesn’t necessarily reflect what kinds of housing people need over their life stage.”
King says residents pointed out there aren’t a lot of regulations encouraging housing diversity.
She adds residents feel what Campbell River is missing are townhouses, secondary suites, supportive housing for seniors and people with disabilities, tiny homes, and cooperative housing.
King and Schwanicke both say residents want to see less red-tape when it comes to secondary suites, tax breaks for families living together to encourage density, more funding for housing organizations, and regulating short-term rentals among other ideas.
They add residents want more infill and density closer to amenities and transportation.
Mayor Andy Adams says affordable homes are gaining momentum in Campbell River, especially in the last year and a half.
“It’s great to see us turn another corner. We were at another key ceremony for Habitat for Humanity last week… to see that there are going to be four more units with two more duplexes there and they’re looking at the land adjacent to be able to expand and continue with that is outstanding,” Mayor Adams said.
He adds there are other housing projects that are going on in the city, including a townhouse project for infill on Hilchey Road, 40 units will be added at Rose Harbour for women and children fleeing violence, 51 affordable units in partnership with BC Housing and M’akola Housing Society and ten units at Campbell River Head Injury among others.
