North Perth is looking at applying for funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund.
Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Jessica McLean, says the fund is a federal program, announced this spring, with a goal of creating more housing units across Canada. It provides incentive funding for municipal governments that support initiatives regarding land use, planning and development approvals. McLean says North Perth wants to apply for funding for a number of reasons.
"This includes the development of a Housing Action Plan. This plan will include initiatives that will help North Perth achieve its housing supply growth target and remove barriers to housing supply," McLean explained.
McLean adds the funding amounts have the potential to be substantial for successful applicants, and can be used to implement the goals of the Housing Action Plan in North Perth.
"The Housing Accelerator Fund does provide the potential for a significant amount of funding to be received if applicants are successful. Those funds can be used to support implementation of the Housing Action Plan initiatives, as well as other housing related costs such as affordable housing, housing related infrastructure and community infrastructure that would support housing supply locally," McLean shared.
The deadline to apply is August 18, and council will be reviewing the potential application at the August 14 meeting. McLean shares that the Housing Action Plan includes a number of different goals.
"So, as of right now our draft includes about 12 initiatives for the Housing Action Plan. The plan focuses on long-term policy changes that would support the growth of supply of housing in North Perth," added McLean. "For example, some of the initiatives include additional dwelling units, a housing community improvement plan, developing policies to support alternate forms of housing and tenure, establishing a density statement and other initiatives that council will review at the August 14 meeting."