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About this event
The Our Sustainable Future seven-part series is continuing to focus on developing a regional vision in line with Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Make communities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Housing is at the top of the milestone list for reaching this goal.
We need an “all hands-on deck” regional approach to tackle the lack of housing in broad segments of our population. Young people working in the service industry, professionals trying to buy their first home, seniors needing rental accommodations, cannot find a place to live which they can afford.
A challenge for too long, the question for all of us is: Where do we want to be in 5 years on this issue? The housing crisis is impacting the vitality of our communities, now.
Panellists:
Marg Scheben-Edey, Vice Chair, Collingwood Affordable Housing Task Force and Chair, Regional Housing Committee, Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness. Marg will present on housing needs in the region and data from the recently published reports from these two committees, emphasizing the need across the population.
Robert Voigt, Director, Development Services, Meaford will highlight planning processes, challenges and opportunities for municipal and builder communities, benefits of a regional approach, what needs to change and what levers are available.
Andrea Nemtin, Executive Director, Social Innovation Canada will present on Financial Strategies from the recently published report on the Financialization of Housing, done with CHMC, MaRS Discovery District, and Centre for Social Innovation.
Shirley Keaveney, Deputy Mayor, Meaford will talk about Social Finance tools including community loan funds, community bonds, and land trusts, which can help to increase the housing supply. She will also highlight our region’s participation in a national housing lab, where innovative ideas are being developed and tested across the county to accelerate progress.
Audience: Municipal leaders and staff, business owners, service providers, investors, developers, and residents from across the region. Lack of housing is not a special interest issue – it is affecting us all.
Lead Partners: The Municipalities of: Collingwood, The Blue Mountains, Meaford, Grey Highlands and Wasaga Beach; The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay
Supporting Partners: Community Futures, Greenland Consulting Engineers, and Julia White/Cooperators
