CCEDNet – Manitoba urges City of Brandon to address affordable housing
We know that access to affordable housing is a necessary foundation for complete communities and stable families. We also know that Manitoba’s 1% rental vacancy rate is the lowest in the country, and that 33% of renters live in core need housing. To address this problem, the Canadian CED Network – Manitoba has submitted a letter to the mayor and council of Brandon to ensure that a robust housing strategy is included in the city’s upcoming growth plan, Brandon’s Roadmap for Growth 2014.Acting on our member-adopted policy resolutions (2012.5 and 2012.7) on housing, CCEDNet urged the City of Brandon to use its newly adopted Affordable Housing First Policy to prioritize the development of new affordable and rental housing on surplus lands. CCEDNet also encouraged the City to use all of the powers within their jurisdiction (ie. inclusionary zoning bylaws, increased density, or the expansion of tax increment financing) to increase and preserve access to affordable and social rental housing in Brandon.
We will be following the City’s progress on housing, and we look forward to opportunities to work with them and other municipalities to address this province’s critical affordable housing shortage.
