The District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) was unsuccessful in its application to a federal housing program.
The board had applied to the Rapid Housing Initiative through the federal government’s Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The program is intended for communities with shovel-ready housing projects.
Mark King, chair of DNSSAB, says he’s disappointed with the result of the application.
“We were really hoping that something that would have come out of it,” he said.
King says the board was planning to build geared-to-income housing around the district if the money came through, including Mattawa, Bonfield as well as in North Bay.
“I was really feeling good about it and it would have alleviated a number of problems that we face. We just have to keep working at it. That’s all we can do,” he said.
Geared-to-income housing, King believes, will help address the rise in homelessness the area has seen over the past year.
“You have to find some method to move towards affordable housing for those people who just can’t afford to keep up with the cost of living,” King said.
DNSSAB’s application to the federal program will remain in the system, making it eligible for any subsequent funding announcements.
In the meantime, King says he and the board will try and find other ways to address housing in the district.
“It’ll be up to the board to decide how we proceed,” he said. “The absolute end issue in my mind is geared-to-income housing in the community that allows people to live a normal life.”
