Affordability top of mind ahead of Calgary’s housing strategy debate
Global News
The City of Calgary's proposed housing strategy sets an annual target to build 3,000 new affordable housing units in the city, nearly the same amount built since 2016.
Affordable housing providers in Calgary hope for action as city council prepares to debate its much-anticipated revamped housing strategy, aimed at addressing both housing affordability and the need for more non-market affordable housing.
A public hearing for ‘Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy 2024-2030‘ is scheduled to begin at the city’s Community Development committee Thursday.
The strategy includes about 80 recommendations and action items aimed at responding to pressures in Calgary’s housing market, the diversity of the city’s housing supply, and a growing need for more affordable housing units.
“When we think about housing affordability, we think about the dynamics of the housing market. Is there housing choice available and is there housing available for people at a price they can afford?” said City of Calgary housing solutions manager Tim Ward.
“When we start to think about affordable housing, that’s when we think about housing that is non-market, at prices that people on lower-to-moderate incomes can afford and sometimes might have some level of government subsidy.”
The need for more non-market housing was highlighted during a grand opening for a new affordable housing complex in Seton, made up of 45 non-market townhouse units.
The Norris House complex, owned and operated by non-profit affordable housing provider HomeSpace, was built in collaboration with all three levels of government and funding contributions from Resolve, a $75-million initiative from local homebuilders to develop more affordable housing.
The complex is nearly full and expected to be fully occupied within weeks through social services provider Closer to Home.