A new society dedicated to advancing workforce housing developments is now up and running in the Kootenays.
The Kootenay Workforce Housing Society will collaborate with local governments and First Nations; private developers and landowners; and other community-based housing providers to increase the supply of attainable housing for moderate-income working individuals and families within the Regional District of Central Kootenay and beyond.
The Society was created by Community Futures Central Kootenay, a non-profit community economic development organization with a mission to help businesses be successful and communities to be economically healthy. Recognizing that a lack of housing has become a significant barrier to business growth and workforce retention in the region, Community Futures began exploring potential solutions.
Working alongside Greater Nelson Economic Development, Community Futures commissioned the Greater Nelson Housing Entity Study, which identified gaps in housing availability and highlighted the need for a dedicated organization to help advance collaborative housing projects.
“We learned that we could add value by creating a regional society that could partner on workforce housing projects and help move them forward,” said Andrea Wilkey, Executive Director of Community Futures Central Kootenay and a Board Member of the Kootenay Workforce Housing Society.
The new Housing Society will focus on advancing housing developments that support the region’s workforce, strengthen local economies, and help communities retain essential workers. The Society’s founding Board of Directors includes: Robert Bleier, President; Terry Bambrick, Vice President; Am Naqvi, Community Futures representative; and Andrea Wilkey, Secretary & Treasurer.
“We know that workforce housing challenges cannot be solved by one organization alone,” said Robert Bleier, President of the Kootenay Workforce Housing Society. “Our goal is to work closely with local governments and the private sector to bring viable projects to life. By leveraging Community Futures’ 40 years of experience in community and business development, we can help create practical, locally driven housing solutions that support both employers and the people who live and work here.”
To get started, the Society and has approached the City of Castlegar about the possibility of using city-owned land to locate its first workforce housing development project.
Kalesnikoff will partner with the Society as its Construction Manager, overseeing project design, manufacturing and delivery. Traditionally known for its roots in forestry and wood manufacturing, Kalesnikoff has evolved into a leader in mass timber innovation. Through its mass timber division, the company is now expanding into prefabricated and modular construction services, supporting the delivery of housing projects from design through installation.
The Society is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify qualified and experienced organizations or individuals to provide housing operations and/or property management services for workforce housing developments. For information about the RFQ visit futures.bc.ca/employment.
This spring, the Kootenay Workforce Housing Society will host a Building Attainable Housing Symposium. The event will bring together non-profit housing providers, building professionals, and community leaders to share practical, locally driven solutions to increase workforce housing across the region. For more information about the Kootenay Workforce Housing Society and upcoming event, visit futures.bc.ca/workforce-housing.
