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The Need for Housing

Wednesday, 20 November 2013 at 05:30

County to set aside an extra $500,000 to address housing shortage in Oxford

It won't solve the County's affordable housing shortage, but an extra $500,000 is welcomed money.

The County is budgeting for an extra half-a-million dollars that could be used in a variety of ways to help provide shelter to those who need it.

Human Services Director Paul Beaton says, "It could go into a development, or rent subsidies, or just in general to enhance our shelter program and provide an extra toolset for the case workers to use when the people are coming to us."

Under current funding levels, the County can't meet the need in the community for affordable housing, with over 1000 on the waiting list.

Norwich and Thamesford were highlighted as two towns no housing vacancies, and the basic services like banks and grocery stores that would be prime locations for new housing developments.  Beaton says, "Norwich is a good example.  There was a lady last week, a lifelong resident of Norwich, couldn't find adequate and affordable housing with a 0% vacancy rate out there.  So there's a prime opportunity in Norwich just from that recent example.  That lady moved to Woodstock and she had been a lifelong resident of Norwich Township."

But, Beaton says it takes the right set of circumstances to address the need.  "You need a perfect storm in terms of is a developer willing to come forward and do a project in one of the communities.  Is there an opportunity to build a project that's financially viable for the private sector, or not for profit group to construct and operate."

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