The Cochrane Society for Housing Options celebrated a decade of filling a need for affordable housing in Cochrane June 17.
Located at 209 2 Ave West, the HomeStead – where the clebration was held – is currently home to 21 families who were in need of affordable housing. The society operates another rental property at the Trading Post to total 38 residential rental units under its care.
“In 1999, the Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) mobilized the community to form a community task … That group conducted a need assessment and it was determined that the greatest need was affordable housing for those aged 18 to 65,” explained Corrine Burns, housing coordinator with the society.
Burns said at the time there was adequate affordable housing for seniors but not for younger people. Under the Affordability Housing Program, the society was awarded a capital grant to help construct the HomeStead under the agreement that rent would be offered at least 10 per cent below market value.
“At the same time the society was being formed, FCSS had outgrown its space and needed a new home. The idea came about to have the main floor of the building commercial to house FCSS and all of its services with housing over top. So that’s how the concept came to be and it’s worked wonderfully well for 10 years in order to provide support for families – both housing and other community supports,” Burns explained.
Once residents move into the HomeStead, the support and commitment of the society doesn’t end there.
“We have a mixture of long-term and short-term tenants. The HomeStead is meant to be a stepping-stone but we find that we do have some residents that have been there long-term. But most of our families are only there short-term,” explained Helen Parnell, the building’s property manager.
The HomeStead is meant to be a temporary solution for people in need – maybe they can’t afford to rent anywhere else, or their current location isn’t suitable for their family size, or any number of similar reasons. Burns explained that the society is willing to accommodate residents while they transition to different housing if they no longer need to stay at the HomeStead.
Parnell explained that through her position as broker and property manager with Winton Properties Ltd. she is able to help residents of the affordable housing units transition to more permanent residences when they’re ready.
For more information about the HomeStead and affordable rent in Cochrane, visit csho.ca.
