The long wait for Flin Flon seniors in need of housing could be coming to an end.
Mayor George Fontaine says the provincial government has made “verbal commitments” to build additional affordable seniors housing in the community.
But in addressing the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, he could provide no further details.
“We’ve had verbal commitments that we are going to see some affordable senior housing come to this community,” Mayor Fontaine said. “So expect to see some announcements on that, but I don’t want to make them until we’ve got something concrete.”
Mayor Fontaine confirmed that he was referring to the Manitoba government as the entity making the commitment.
He said he expected a formal announcement on the project within six months.
While he did not want to publicize details in the midst of ongoing negotiations, Mayor Fontaine said city council is “very optimistic.”
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Given that the housing would be classified as “affordable,” it is possible it would be open only to elderly individuals and couples in the lower-income category.
Those sorts of details, however, will emerge in the fullness of time.
With a growing elderly population, Flin Flon has an increasing need to house seniors who are ready to move out of their own homes.
The last seniors housing complex to open in Flin Flon was the the 12-unit Evergreen Manor, near the Aqua Centre, in 2008.
At last report there was a lengthy waiting list to get into Evergreen.
During his chamber address Tuesday, Mayor Fontaine also said new low-income family apartments to be built in Flin Flon won’t necessarily go up at Aspen Grove as first announced.
He said the city is in negotiations and that he believes other sites are being considered.
Mayor Fontaine said it is important to replace the low-income units lost when the Hemlock Drive apartments closed last year.
“We need to have replacements within our community of those units and hopefully (an) addition to those units,” he said.
