New affordable homes offer 'glimmer of hope' in tackling housing crisis, says Gander advocate

A member of Gander's housing and homelessness hub says the opening of six new affordable homes in her community is the first step in addressing a growing need for housing in the community.

Kimberly Beers of the Gander Housing and Homelessness Hub says the need for housing — between residents and incoming students — is only increasing in the town.

"It gives us a little glimmer of hope of knowing that there are some places that some people will be able to move into," said .

"It's been a great step forward. The housing market here [and] the housing stock here has been challenging. So I'm really excited about … the innovation that came into providing, you know, so many units in a small space. And I look forward to even more of that."

The provincial government opened the new, affordable homes in Gander on Wednesday. The homes are a mixture of one- and two-bedroom units — three of which include accessible ground units — and are owned by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.

The units cost $1.5 million to build, and five of the six units are already filled.

A new housing unit has also opened in Peterview, about 90 kilometres west.

Paul Pike, the minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, said the provincial government has built 750 units in the past two years, with a target of 850 more in their sights.

"These will certainly get some families into brand-new units, and we'll hopefully create a good future for them and their families," Pike said. "Safe and affordable housing is something, you know, we're all working towards. The province itself is doing a lot of work in those areas."

Pike said more homes can be expected in areas like Gander and other communities that serve as urban hubs — pointing specifically to St. John's, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

However, he added, work is also being done on homes in rural communities.

"If we see a need in any community or any area, we're going to assess that need. And if we find that we need to build units there, we will."

Innovation must continue to solve crisis

Now that the homes are open and available, advocates like Beers hope more will be built.

"We can't do it all on our own," she said. "It means all communities' involvement in order to make sure that these, you know, innovations happen so that more people can be housed in a safe way."

The province is partnering with the Town of Gander to perform a housing needs assessment, which Mayor Percy Farwell says will help address the crisis.

"We look forward to continuing to work toward solutions, so that we can, and hopefully all communities in our province, can be the welcoming, accessible, communities that we need to be, that don't leave people behind," he said.

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