Affordable Housing Forums in West and East Kootenays
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(Cranbrook, November, 2009) CBT has identified the issue of affordable housing as a priority in its Social Strategic Plan and this past month has hosted, in partnership with the Fraser Basin Council, two Regional Housing Forums aimed at sharing information with local governments, First Nations and their partners around this issue. The first of two forums was hosted in Castlegar on October 28, and the second in Cranbrook on November 3.
“CBT wants to work as a partner and as a facilitator with those interested in creating vital communities,” said Aimee Ambrosone, Manager, CBT Planning and Development. “We were very happy with the turnout and with the quality of the dialogue, and hope these discussions can support the development of practical strategies to address the housing concerns of our communities.”
Laurie Page, Chair of Housing for the Nakusp and Area Development Board said she was pleased following the West Kootenay forum. “This was the best turnout of local government I have ever seen at a housing forum. Clearly we are all grappling with the same issues, and local governments are prepared to provide some leadership,” said Page. “I was gratified to see that all of the breakout groups listed similar barriers and opportunities, it reinforced my opinion that we have commonalities. Every one of us prioritized developing regional expertise as a potential aid to finding solutions. I think the timing is right for us to work on regional solutions with a regional resource, and I hope that CBT will help us do that.”
Page commented that these forums were valuable in providing an opportunity to network with other communities that may be experiencing similar issues, and as a venue to brainstorm solutions. “You never know where a new idea or new perspective will come from, and it is always worthwhile looking outside our own communities to see what is out there,” she explained. “Getting together with representatives of other communities creates a venue for collective wisdom to surface; if we meet often enough or the timing is right, a great idea comes up that can turn into action.”
Ambrosone added that CBT will continue to support communities as they move forward in the planning and development of their affordable housing strategies.
For more information on these forums or on CBT’s affordable housing initiatives, please contact Aimee Ambrosone at T: 1.800.505.8998/ E: aambrosone[at]cbt.org.
For more information on community sustainability planning in the Kootenay region, please contact Laurie Cordell T: 250 489-4860 /E: lcordell[at]fraserbasin.bc.ca.
