Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck and city council are proud to give both the college and university grants for new student housing, in order to help reduce the effects of current housing crisis.
The city of Lethbridge will be giving a grant of $2 million dollars to Lethbridge College to help with the cost of building a new residence building for students to live in while they attend college. Mayor Tarleck says that figure will be enough to “put the project over the top and have long-term sustainability.”
The city has had a housing crisis for over two years. Students are being turned away from going to Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge because they simply can’t find a place to live. The homeless population in Lethbridge is also on the rise because the city is having trouble keeping up with the growth.
“We haven’t had the revenues. Once the provincial government was persuaded, then they began providing funds. We’ve acted quite quickly. We’ve made a very significant infusion of dollars. There’s not one time to start and one time to stop, this is an ongoing commitment,” says Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck.
The city has had workshops and a housing committee to help better understand what needs to be done to address the city’s current housing crisis.
“Just this week, there was a one and half day housing workshop and I believe they came up with the commitment of an additional 200 affordable housing units in 2009. You may wonder, why 200? It’s a number that the committee felt was achievable. We need to start working on measurable standards, rather than just say we need to work on this problem, we’re going to try and address it,” says Mayor Tarleck.
The city was successful in their proposal to the province when the Social Action and Housing Committee asked the province for financial assistance and to support the city’s Housing First Policy. The policy shows how serious the city is focusing on the housing crisis.
“What our Housing First Policy means is we think it’s critically important for this community that we ensure that people are adequately housed. We don’t see that as a total solution, but depending on the needs, and there’s a whole continuum on what affordable housing means,” explains Mayor Tarleck.
There are many issues to address in terms of finding people an affordable place to live, including finding student housing and low income housing. The more students rent on-campus, the more rooms and basement suites can be freed up for rent within Lethbridge.
“There are homeless shelters, and then there are transition homes, and then there are homes for families that can’t afford to move into a home that they own themselves. Lethbridge has so many post secondary students, adequate housing for students is important to us.”
“I suppose on a moral and social ground, but even economic terms because the college turns down many students who are unable to come because they can’t find housing here. Every housing unit that we’re able to provide for students frees up another housing unit in the community,” says Mayor Tarleck.
Tarleck points out that another benefit to on-campus student housing includes a shorter distance to travel to get to classes, and less money spent on bus fares. At the same time, more off-campus housing is freed up.
The city also considered and approved new student housing for the University of Lethbridge, and has purchased ownership in the Castle Apartments to provide low-income housing.
“One of the first things we did was purchase the ownership in the Castle Apartments, and Alberta Housing actually operates that. We were afraid that if that went on the condominium market, we would have an influx of people that would find themselves without accommodation,” says Mayor Tarleck. “We’ve reached the point now where we need to have measurable results. We need to indicate just what we hope to do in one year, and than we have to revisit that at the end of the year.”
Mayor Tarleck feels we’re very fortunate to have two post-secondary schools, and with those benefits comes a lot of responsibility, which means it’s time for council to quickly address these issues.
“This is the time for council to step up to the plate,” says Tarleck.
Community feedback has been great. Many residents see that council is taking a serious approach to the housing crisis. As for negative remarks, Tarleck says he’s willing to look past his critics.
“To tell you the truth, at this point, I’m kind of looking beyond the devous of despair. There are people who criticize everything I do, and I think it’s important to keep focused on the big picture. In my view, a really important part of that big picture is improving housing opportunities for our people,” says Tarleck.
The city also wants to address the city’s homeless problems.
“We talk about closing the front doors so we don’t have more homeless, and opening the rear doors so we can make it possible for people in homeless situation to move into better housing,” says Tarleck.
Tarleck says a large part of the success of the Housing First Policy was due to the ‘team approach’, led by Doctor Gary Bowie and the Social Action and Housing Committee.
“I’m really proud of the work that they’ve been doing. (involved in 2 mill) They’ve had a part in helping us put this on the provincial agenda. They’re helping to identify the most pressing needs, and helping evaluate what our next step should be.”
We need to think not just in terms of bedrooms and bathrooms, but we need to think in terms of nurturing neighbourhoods and environments in which people can feel happy, and thrive and grow.
Originally posted 2009-03-17 01:16:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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