By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Port Alberni, BC – On Tuesday, Nov. 29, Gina Amos, Wally Samuel, George Frank, and Ed Ross met with Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions. They came together for the signing of the deed to the former Cedarwood Elementary School, where they plan to build an affordable housing complex for Ahousaht members living in Port Alberni.
Continue reading Citaapi Mahtii signs the deed for affordable housing development
Sandra Wood, Executive Director of the Cortes Community Housing Society, had two important news updates.
Firstly, she has some more details about the Open House, for the Rainbow Ridge affordable housing project, at Mansons Hall on November 30.
“That’s Wednesday, one week away and it’ll be an open house style meeting where people can drop in any time between 3 in the afternoon and 6 in the evening. We’re encouraging people to stop in after they pick up their kids from school, or stop in on their way home from work,” explained Wood.
Continue reading Cortes Housing Society: Open House for Rainbow Ridge & a property saleThe Cortes Community Housing Society has just released a film about the design work they have completed, with the help of Iredale Architecture, on the Rainbow Ridge project.
“ We’re very lucky to have Bill Weaver, the film maker on our board of directors. Bill is actually our vice president and one of the things he’s so gifted at is capturing film and photos. One of the things he’s been trying to do since the beginning of the project is really record the process that the housing society has gone through,” said Sandra Wood, Executive Director of the Housing Society.
Continue reading Cortes Housing Society Film: ‘Behind the Design’It’s pretty common knowledge that we have a housing crisis on Cortes. In fact, there’s a “housing crisis” in many — perhaps most — popular or attractive places in North America and Europe right now. One of the factors often mentioned is AirBnB. This phenomenon (AirBnB now has global impact and qualifies as a Phenomenon!) vividly illustrates the predicament of “good for one is not necessarily good for all” — also sometimes known as “smart for one, dumb for all”.
Continue reading When the Invisible Hand Fumbles: The AIRBnB PhenomenonAs Currents recently reported, homelessness is not just “an American thing,” or “a big-city thing,” or even “a Vancouver Island thing.” Homelessness is also here on Cortes, where a recent survey found that about 50 people rated their housing situation as “unstable,” and 11 were living rough (with no permanent shelter, in tents or other makeshift accommodation).
Although “housing” might sound like a single issue, it has has knock-on effects throughout our community.
Continue reading A New Approach to Homelessness: Housing First
