PENTICTON – Penticton Council supported two staff reports at their Regular meeting recently that will advance home-grown solutions to housing affordability within the city.
The first is the Social Housing and Infrastructure Plan (SHIP), which was developed collaboratively with the local not-for-profit housing sector and 100 More Homes Penticton partners to set and achieve a range of below-market housing goals for the City.
“Together with community partners, we have created a plan that not only identifies the city’s housing affordability needs but also identifies the necessary spaces, services, and programs for community well-being – like daycares, that should also be considered as new social housing projects advance,” says Steven Collyer, manager of housing and policy initiatives for the City.
The SHIP brings together partners, land and funding opportunities to enable more construction of below-market housing. The SHIP includes three city-owned sites for senior, youth and workforce housing options, as well as an additional 12 opportunity sites from community partners that will be further explored.
Council also supported staff’s recommendation to explore a tenant protection bylaw. The bylaw would require developers to submit a tenant relocation plan to the City outlining how they will support tenants needing to move out of a rental unit due to redevelopment. Many cities in BC require similar tenant protections during redevelopment and the City is exploring what a made-in-Penticton approach could include.
“We know that redevelopment can impact renters and jeopardize their ability to remain in housing they can afford,” continued Collyer. “The goal of this bylaw would be to support compassionate redevelopment of older buildings while helping prevent the displacement of affected tenants.”
The City will engage with the development industry and tenant groups to gather feedback before further Council consideration.
Source: City of Penticton
