Submitted by Hazel Smith
What do you do when you don’t have the resources to build new housing? You look at what resources already exist and see if they can be configured in a new or different way.
Looking at current short-term need, the Spark housing inventory initiative aims to persuade a small number of owners of housing stock (surplus to their own family’s needs), to offer it for rent to long-term renters. The initial goal is to achieve a transition of 4 units by the end of 2021.
Ideally adding to this modest transition in subsequent years. This, in combination with one or more small scale builds, perhaps undertaken at Municipal or County level and/or by private contractors, would go a long way to addressing current and future demand.
The question that comes up in every conversation is: “What’s the motivation?” “Why would someone opt for a long-term rental rather than a short-term rental?” It seems a forgone conclusion – until we delve a bit deeper – that revenue is the only thing that matters.
In fact there are long-term landlords who see benefits in that option. Perhaps their rental is not waterfront, outside of town, or modest in size and amenities, with short-term rentals less predictable and lucrative. With a long-term rental they have a guaranteed annual income.
There is also the struggle to find someone to do the cleaning. Part of our Catch-22: we’re becoming a community that cannot provide housing to our workforce.
While revenue is a powerful motivator, for a host of reasons, there are other important influencers, albeit ones you may not be able to take to the bank: concern for someone in need of housing, or concern about the bigger picture around sustaining a vibrant year round community.
This Spark project is ongoing and we’d love to hear from more tenants, want-to-be tenants, and recently housed tenants. Everyone says we have a housing crisis but we need to be able to demonstrate it with current facts and personal stories.
Likewise, we need to learn from any landlords in our community – of all stripes (short-term, staff, and long-term housing) – to understand the challenges, obstacles and benefits from your perspective.
All comments can be offered anonymously with confidentiality maintained, if desired.
This work is part of the Bruce County strategic community initiatives fund, The Meeting Place has received 2-year funding to help facilitate the design of some new resources. The focus is specific to addressing social and economic ‘risks’ sometimes associated with the seasonal economy.
If you have questions or are willing to be interviewed please contact Spark facilitator, Hazel Smith by email at hazellyder@gmail.com or via The Meeting Place on facebook, or by telephone: 519 596 2313.
