Local housing and homelessness was on the agenda as council received the county’s first ever Housing and Homelessness Plan on Tuesday.

The plan itself, which was informed by people with lived experience and reviewed by 15 community service agencies, is a living document written in the context of the current federal National Housing Strategy. One of the elements it includes is a historical and current review of housing in the county, as influenced by government policies and market forces, as well as a 5-year plan to remedy the local affordable housing crisis.

The report also highlights that a full 30 per cent of county residents are now deemed low-income in terms of their ability to afford either market real estate or rentals, and that local homelessness has risen by 40 per cent over the past three years.

As well, Elis Ziegler, housing programs and services assistant, said that rental evictions have grown exponentially since the beginning of the pandemic.

Kathy Kennedy, who was present to comment on the plan on behalf of the Prince Edward Learning Centre (PELC), stressed the need for emergency shelter and emergency support services:

Nasim and Miles (via proxy) spoke to council in regard to their chronic homelessness experience in the county:

Chuck Dowdall, director of housing for the county, said that up to three potential housing projects are being planned that will be eligible for funding from the newly increased Prince Edward - Lennox and Addington Social Services (PELASS) budget.

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