There is a new affordable housing initiative afoot in Baysville, Lake of Bays councillors were told at their March 10 council meeting.
Lisa Bixel, area resident and manager of The Pantry Foodbank in Baysville, told councillors that the housing initiative is being supported by all three churches, residents, and business owners in the community.
“We know that you share our commitment,” she told councillors. “People are underhoused. Some people are homeless.”
She said the issues are not just that people are homeless and don’t have money. “Some of these people are working. The rents are too high. Food costs are really high. They can’t afford to have programs for their children,” she said, adding that they also cannot afford the cost of medicine, or gas, and while costs continue to rise, incomes don’t.
Bixel said a new build is being proposed on land on Hwy. 117. The building would contain four one-bedroom and four two-bedroom rental apartments, with on-site space for supportive programming.
She said the proposal also includes refurbishing existing homes in Baysville to make them safer and more environmentally friendly for the people who live there. “Adding on more efficient heating systems, making sure that people can afford to live there.”
She said building housing for people, having them safe and housed, keeps people out of the ER. “So we were thinking of looking at pairing with our hospitals up here—the Huntsville and Bracebridge hospital—and see if we can do some fundraising,” she added.
She said the group has been fundraising and will continue. Their fundraising will include applying for grants, hosting events, and issuing bonds to finance the project. Bonds could range from $1,000 with a 3 per cent return, $5,000 with a 3.5 per cent return, and $10,000 with a 5 per cent return. She said the bonds would run for periods of three or five, and ten years.
She said the proposed model is similar to other successful models.
“All I wanted to do today is make you aware,” she told councillors, adding that the group would be returning to council. She said they already have architectural drawings and the apartments would be geared to income and handled by a property manager.
Councillor Mike Peppard suggested that the group talk to the District of Muskoka to see if they could get financial support.
Lake of Bays Mayor Terry Glover also recommended that the group present their initiative to the District and thanked the group for all of their efforts.
Find out more about the project proposed, HERE.
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Open your eyes Lisa and Baysville- as an experienced rental property owner, I can tell you this is an expensive long term venture. Affordable and/or supportive housing is a bandaid solution. The reason these types of housing builds never work is because there is never any turnover. The tenants don’t and wont leave because these purpose built units are always the cheapest way to live. They become generational housing. . What will.be in put in place to ensure this is temporary until.people get back on their feet? Its NOTHING because the tenant laws don’t permit a fixed term.
Not sure why baysville would be appropriate for this type of housing and to top off bring supportive programs in. Not cost effective. This type of initiative should be in a larger town where there is access to programs already .No reason to put housing here. Another soft initiative vs spending time and money improving the area . and then put it on hwy 1117 ? Where we are hoping to attract tourism ? Now we can drive by housing that will look run down in 5 years. Have you learned nothing from these projects in the past? Itll bring crime and drugs.. why supportive programs are suggested. People.need a dose of reality. Wake up. This will.be high cost to manage and insure.