The county and town of St. Paul, the town of Elk Point, and Summer Village of Horseshoe Bay are inviting the public to participate in community workshops as part of a regional housing strategy.
ISL Engineering is leading the project, which aims to assess current housing challenges and develop and action plan to improve housing options across the region.
The “Let’s Talk Housing!” workshops will take place on February.5 at the St. Paul Recreation Centre from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on February 6 at the Elk Point Pioneer Centre from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
These drop-in events will allow residents to share their housing experiences, discuss challenges to housing access, and offer input on potential improvements. Display boards will provide background information on the project, and council members from all four municipalities will be available to speak to residents.
The project’s first phase involved conducting a housing needs assessment to understand the challenges people face in securing different types of housing, including rental units, homeownership, temporary shelters, and seniors’ housing.
Community planner Nathalia Schwind emphasized the importance of public participation stating, “Housing is an issue that touches everyone.”
In addition to the workshops, ISL Engineering is conducting a public survey from February 3 to the 21st to gather further community feedback. Community engagement strategist Hanna Thai explained that these workshops provide valuable insights that surveys may not capture, encouraging people to attend and share their perspectives.
Feedback from the public in this phase will shape the second phase of the project, scheduled for later in 2025, which will focus on developing a comprehensive regional housing strategy.
