By Tom Mark

Lumby Mayor Attends Vancouver Housing Conference

Nov 22, 2017 | 6:49 AM

Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton says a housing conference he attended the past few days in Vancouver has been thought provoking

The conference focused on affordable housing and the link between homelessness and addiction and the needs of support groups.

“A lot of conversation about how homelessness is probably a key issue in a lot of things going on. mental health. People are still on the streets that should have supports.“

Acton says he`s waiting to see what grants may be available to Lumby from the federal government`s housing strategy being announced today.

Acton says there`s a big focus on collaboration.

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“I came here looking to see how the government can help us and I`m actually learning more about how we can help non-profit societies and associations and what not more about how we can help them.“

Acton says a lot of what he`s hearing groups looking for is what Lumby has included in its Affordable Housing Strategy.

“It`s interesting to hear them talk about red tape, zoning bylaws, looking for things like stuff that we`re actually planning on doing, carriage housing, lane housing, inclusionary bylaws, inclusive communities, mixed use.“

He says it`s been an education hearing what other communities are doing and the issues they`re facing.

by Tom Mark