Corner Brook Mayor Jim Parsons says he's concerned about the lack of affordable and available housing locally in light of government's announcement to fix low rental housing units and that only includes 12 in Corner Brook. The issue was discussed at Monday's regular council meeting.

Council members have been meeting with community partners to figure out solutions to housing issues. Parsons says the solution is not just about constructing buildings: there are also services to consider.

The provincial government announced 150 Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NHLC) units will be repaired and renovated to be suitable housing options, but Parsons says only a dozen in the city will be fixed when there are dozens of vacant units. But he says Corner Brook is getting an emergency shelter. Council is continuing to work with NHLC through this process.

Meanwhile, Parsons says municipalities are under equipped to deal with housing issues, adding that Corner Brook does not have designated housing staff member.

Listen to CKVB's story about housing in Corner Brook, as well as stories on a drug bust in Port aux Basques, a burned out truck in Jeffrey's and a new challenge for Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Innovation: