An affordable housing project in Okotoks has land and building plans, but still needs funding before construction can begin.
Westwinds Communities wants to build 50 affordable housing units at the D’Arcy affordable housing site, located at the corner of Sandstone Gate and Northridge Drive. The organization purchased land from the Town last year to construct two buildings, one with 10 units and the other with 40.
Westwinds CAO Lauren Ingalls said the project needs provincial and federal help, but efforts to secure the necessary funding have been unsuccessful.
“We've got some money to help advance these projects, so that they’re what I would call shovel-ready,” Ingalls said. “But we haven’t got the big dollars to build, we’re still applying for funding.”
About $4.4 million is needed for both buildings and, with enough funding, construction at the site could start next spring, Ingalls said.
“We’re preparing for another cycle of funding that the Province indicates they’ll release this fall,” she said.
The 10-unit building Westwinds proposes would house singles, couples and families in one- to three-bedroom suites.
The 40-unit building would consist of one-bedroom apartments for low-income individuals, seniors and couples.
With strong demand for affordable housing, over 130 households are on a waiting list and there is immediate need for 200 units in Okotoks, Westwinds says.
“We've got demonstrated need, nobody's debating,” she said. “We just don’t appear to be the highest priority.”
Ingalls said the affordable housing developments in Alberta that get funding are already under construction, but Westwinds can’t take the financial risk of breaking ground before funding is in place.
During the Okotoks council meeting on Oct. 28, Town staff said many non-profit housing providers in Alberta are facing the same challenges, especially those outside of large cities.
Ingalls said other provinces seem to have better co-ordination between municipal and provincial governments, making it easier to access federal grants.
“I don’t think Alberta was ready enough with its housing strategies and granting dollars to capitalize on those (funding opportunities),” she said. “Essentially, on the federal marketplace, we’re playing catch up.”
An affordable housing site in Okotoks has been in the works since at least 2019, when the Town of Okotoks purchased land for the D’Arcy affordable housing site for $2.6 million.
The land was divided into four parcels. Three were allocated to affordable housing, and Westwinds bought two, but found the third site isn't suitable for affordable housing.
Ingalls said there isn’t enough space for above-ground parking, so an underground parking lot would need to be built.
“It proves to be cost prohibitive for affordable housing,” she said.
The fourth site was sold to a private developer to recoup some of the Town’s costs.
