Housing

Housing and homelessness

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Sleeping cabins put on hold as Cobourg council to offer land to county for affordable housing

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Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

The Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective was before the Cobourg council earlier this week. Politicians were deciding what to do next. Staff recommended two alternatives: reject it or go forward with the proposal to put 12 units next to the Memorial Arena on Furnace Street. After politicians presented their positions, Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty offered a third choice. Declare the land surplus and offer it to Northumberland County as a site for an affordable housing project. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, #Cobourg, Community, Homelessness, Housing, Politics, Social Justice

Town staff explain decision to support Balder rental development after affordable units questioned

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Balder building

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

A new rental unit built in Cobourg promised to provide affordable housing. The developer, Balder Corporation, constructed 71 units at the corner of William Street and University Avenue. It received a $15 million loan from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation or CMHC. For this, it would provide 15 affordable units. It also received support from the Cobourg council from its Community Improvement Program or CIP. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, #Cobourg, Housing, Politics, Social Justice

Sleeping cabin proposal before Cobourg council unpacked

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Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

In December, the Cobourg council received a delegation from the Northumberland Sleeping Cabin Collective. It presented a proposal to build 12 units and support services on Furnace Street next to the old Memorial Arena. The proposal will cost about a quarter of a million dollars. This includes the cabins’ construction and operating costs for a six-month pilot project. The money will come from fundraising and contributions from the people living in the cabins. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Housing, Social Justice

Group hopes to build temporary sleeping cabins for homeless in Northumberland

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Sleeping cabins

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

After efforts, this summer to find a solution to people sleeping in parks and public spaces across Northumberland, a group of concerned citizens got together to propose a solution. Sleeping cabins are small huts of less than 100 sq. ft. that provide a secure, safe place for those who are homeless. These cabins are already being used in Kitchener, Peterborough, and Kingston with some success. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Homelessness, Housing, Social Justice

Seeking solutions to affordable housing and rentals through a community improvement plan

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The show:

Affordable housing and addressing homelessness is a county responsibility in Northumberland. You will hear politicians repeat this mantra often. Municipal politicians have few tools to stimulate or create affordable housing and rental units. One approach is the use of grants and loans. This can be done at the lower level. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Housing, Politics, Social Justice

Who owns what? Unpacking Northumberland County’s housing market

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The show:

For years I have wanted to do this story. So often, when listening to people talk about homelessness or affordable housing, the conversation inevitably turns to real estate. What is going on with the housing market in Northumberland? Advocates will tell you skyrocketing housing prices are pushing people out of the market. They will also curse investors and speculators who snap up properties to flip them – that is, buy and sell them in a short period for a profit – or turn them into rental units going for unholy monthly amounts. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Housing, Politics, Social Justice

Open letter calls on county residents to share ideas around solving homeless crisis

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The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

According to Northumberland County official reports, 78 people are homeless. It could be more. There are only 24 beds at Transition House, the county’s only emergency shelter. People are sleeping in tents in the local woods. They sleep on the beach. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Housing, Politics, Social Justice

A house goes on an incredible journey thanks to Habitat for Humanity Northumberland

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The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

In 2020, just before the pandemic hit, a Cobourg developer decided not to demolish a house on University Avenue. Instead, he called Habitat for Humanity Northumberland. Meghan MacDonald, the executive director, jumped at the chance to get a home it could renovate for a family in need. But before anything could be done, the pandemic hit. Suddenly, she was scrambling to figure out all the protocols and what could be done to save this house. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Community, Housing, Social Justice

Coldest Night of the Year raises awareness and money to support the homeless, says organizer

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Coldest Night of the Year

The show:

The full interview with bonus material:

With the recent wave of freezing weather, it is not hard to imagine what it must be like when you don’t have shelter. Once again, local organizers of the Coldest Night of the Year are asking for support. The walk-a-thon hopes to raise more than just money. It hopes to increase people’s understanding of the hardships many homeless people face when they don’t have a home or enough food or can’t find enough resources to live. You will hear Phil Redford talk about the event and its goals. Continue Reading →

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Filed under: Consider This Northumberland, Housing, Social Justice