Gibsons councillor Silas White says the Town is moving ahead as quickly as possible on affordable housing projects in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Housing Society.
In a report to council Dec. 5, White said the pace of the projects was discussed at a recent meeting he and Coun. Stafford Lumley had with the Housing Society’s executive director.
White said it’s the view of council and the society that there’s little the Town could do at this point to move any quicker.
The focus now is on getting the $9 million in funding needed for the biggest project, the 40-unit rental complex proposed for the property known as the Charman Creek Lands.
“That’s the biggest hurdle. It’s not the Town getting zoning, it’s not anything the Town needs to do. It’s trying to get funding from senior levels of government, and we’re moving ahead as quickly as possible,” White said.
“We still need to consult with the community more, which will be happening in January, but that’s not holding things up [either] and I think that’s an important message to get out.”
White, who is council’s liaison to the Sunshine Coast Homelessness Advisory Committee, also gave an update on the discussions around the old RCMP building on School Road.
In a supplementary written report, White said he’s been in contact with the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homeless Initiative. He said the federal program has had the Town of Gibsons on file as being interested in the property since 2012. Habitat for Humanity is also interested and is hoping to get the Town’s support.
“Currently, the program is on hold awaiting ministerial approval for its 2017-18 strategy,” White’s report said. “Its budget has been reduced, too, but the program is motivated to find an appropriate use for this RCMP property by the time the program ends in March 2019 and is folded into CMHC. But in the meantime, I was assured that no applications will be entertained until the program’s new strategy is approved.”
