CHF Canada, others, urge action on affordable housing in Alberta election

ALBERTA-Residents of Alberta in Canada will flock to the polls at the end of this month, deciding on the province’s path forward. Affordability and the limited supply of good quality, affordable housing are key concerns for many communities.

According to cooperators, it is critical that the provincial government commits to ensuring a safe and secure home for all Albertans.

As election day approaches, citizens of Alberta are being urged to call for affordable housing.  “This election, you can advocate for cooperative housing and more investment in affordable housing across the province.”

Three cooperative organisations are behind the move for affordable housing and they say: “CHF Canada, along with the Northern Alberta Co-operative Housing Association (NACHA) and the Southern Alberta Co-operative Housing Association (SACHA), urge all political parties to increase the supply of affordable, non-profit, and co-operative housing and to support rental assistance programs for low-income households,” they say

The call comes as Albertans are looking for solutions to address affordability and increased cost of living. For example, rental assistance for low-income households can prevent a wave of new homelessness due to growing housing costs. There are 65 housing co-ops with over 3,000 households combined in Alberta. The co-op housing sector has stood the test of time to create and maintain efficient housing solutions.

“Cooperative housing has long been a source of affordable, secure housing in the community setting but given the inflationary situation, Canadians are facing -along with the insecurity that comes with rapidly rising rents in the private market-the benefits of cooperative housing have never been clearer. Now we just need to build more of it,” said Innis Ayana, Executive Director, NACHA.

“Housing cooperatives offer affordable, inclusive, and secure homes within a community organised around the values of social responsibility and caring for others. Supporting the housing coop sector and building more cooperative housing will offer Canadians the advantages of affordability, diversity, and security which coop communities provide,” Brenda Davies, Executive Director, SACHA.

https://thecooperator.news/canada-housing-coops-are-getting-more-affordable-says-report/

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