City looks to residents to determine housing needs

The City of Fort St. John’s is looking into the need for various housing options, including affordable housing, in the community.

Last year, City Council asked the planning department to conduct a background study to assess affordable housing in the community, says Jennifer Decker, the City’s planning technologist. Out of that study, Decker says the City is now trying to develop an affordable housing strategy.

She says the first step in the process was to meet with various community interest groups to understand what they felt were some of the biggest issues surrounding housing options. The groups included the Salvation Army, Community Living, Northern Health, developers and property rental companies.

The planning department met with these groups Wednesday evening and is now asking local residents to fill out an Affordable Housing Needs Assessment Survey. Decker says the survey will be used to get a feel for residents’ personal situations as well as what housing options they feel the community is lacking.

Decker says the planning department will present a draft report to City Council once the survey and assessments are completed. She says the department hopes to present the report to council by the end of April.

Residents can access the survey by going to the City’s website, its Facebook page or by picking up a hard copy at City Hall.