An Affordable Housing candidate forum in Madawaska Valley Township held Wednesday September 21st reinforced the role of small municipalities in working toward resolving the crisis.
The event was held at the Legion in Barry’s Bay, and attracted 50 interested residents and a dozen municipal candidates.
It was organized by the Affordable Housing Alliance of the Ottawa Valley (AHAOV).
Several people at the meeting talked about the “precarious position” that many tenants are in, with landlords seeking to replace current occupants so as to be able to jack the rent, or having to find accommodation in trailers or vehicles.
With municipal elections coming on October 24, much of the evening’s discussion was focused on the municipal role in tackling the crisis.
Meeting chair Ish Theilheimer emphasized the need for local committees to form to develop housing, pointing to Fairfields in Eganville and Millstream Apartments in Killaloe as examples of affordable housing started by local committees.
AHAOV plans to hold similar meetings in Pembroke (Sept. 27th), Killaloe, KHR Township, (Oct. 4th), Eganville, BV Township (Oct. 5th) and Golden Lake, NAW Township, (Oct. 6th).
(Written by: Rick Stow)
