The Housing Business Plan should be completed before Canada Day. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

capacity building

Council moves ahead with development of Housing Business Plan

Jan 12, 2024 | 12:02 PM

La Ronge council has voted to move ahead with the development of a Housing Business Plan.

The decision to do so was made at a regular council meeting on Tuesday. It builds upon a Housing Needs Assessment and Action Plan (Phase 1) created in 2023, which is a document needed to qualify and apply for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing (CMHC) Accelerator Fund program.

A funding application was submitted in August last year and CMHC has since contacted town administration about the application and requested additional information.

The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) approved a $15,000 grant for La Ronge and Air Ronge to conduct the joint Housing Needs Assessment. Money remaining from that partnership will go towards funding the Housing Business Plan, which is estimated to cost $15,000.

“Phase 2 is proposed to involve the development of a more detailed business plan for the implementation of those opportunities (in part) identified in Phase 1 of the Action Plan aimed at increasing the housing supply,” documents prepared by town administration stated.

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“Wallace Insights Inc. was asked to provide a proposal for continuing with Phase 2 on behalf of the municipalities. The proposed cost sharing for Phase 2 is a $7,500 SHC grant, $5,500 Town, and $2,000 Village. In the 2024 capital budget, council approved $3.9 million in support of residential development (subject to $3 million coming from the Housing Accelerator Fund).”

As per the proposal submitted by Wallace Insights, the Housing Business Plan will document strategies, actions, resources and timelines intended to drive collective effort in the realization of Phase 1.

Development of Phase 2 will include in-person workshops, email and telephone outreach and participation in group meetings. Wallace Insights will also examine the resource capacity gaps associated with implementation of Phase 1, and compile research on current and anticipated opportunities for funding and financing of housing.

“Our final deliverable provides important planning information to highlight pathways to viable housing projects,” the proposal from Wallace Insights states. “The Plan will be provided in Word format and include a summary presentation to town and northern village administrations, and participating stakeholders.”

Stakeholder engagement and implementation support is expected to be completed by June 14 with the plan and presentation to be delivered before Canada Day.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com