Former Progressive Conservative candidate and community activist Angela Enright gave a thorough and enlightening presentation on senior housing to Snow Lake Town Council at the June 7 regular meeting. It was apparent from her presentation that such a project is both needed and attainable if the right people and groups buy into it.
Enright provided statistics on local people such a project could benefit. She explained that the Northern Health Region’s evacuation list designates 55 residents in the community who are elderly and have some sort of health condition.
As well the 2011 Census revealed that 215 people in Snow Lake were over the age of 60 and there could well be 135 people over 70 years of age in two years time.
Enright said these statistics show that there is an immediate need in the community for 55 aging-in-place’ or enriched housing units; however, she doubts that number would be approved.
Next, Enright addressed the need for senior housing, which she defined as “extreme.”
“There are no affordable senior homes or suites available in the community,” said Enright, “and people on fixed incomes cannot afford what is available.”
She pointed out that many seniors wish to stay in Snow Lake and close to family and friends, but that some who are mobility challenged and on a fixed income are unable to maintain their homes and can’t afford to hire people to do the work for them.
With regard to the benefits of the project, Enright said the obvious one was that it would improve the quality of life for many seniors and allow those who are currently shut in to interact with others, while retaining some personal independence. She pointed out that keeping seniors within the community contributes to a stable population and helps the elderly retain family contact, social networks, and their sense of community.
“It keeps our history in the community,” she added.
To close out her presentation, Enright gave council an overview of what the Snow Lake aging-in-place project would entail. She said that it would contain 19 independent living units that would be designed for accessibility and include several units for seniors with limited mobility.
There would be a common area, as well as security features built into the suites and building. A commercial kitchen, resident dining and daily living supports would be optional.
Rent would be affordable and based on Manitoba Housing guidelines – eight one-bedroom suites at $643 and 11 two-bedroom units at $803. Two or three suites could be designated as low income, with rent being calculated as a percentage of total before tax income (less than 30 per cent).
There would also be the option of including several market rental units that could be made available to individuals upon written request and upon receipt of a pre-construction deposit. There would be no income guidelines on these suites.
Enright asked the town to be a contributor to the project by way of a letter of support and – down the road – providing the land the complex would be built on. She said a designated committee would need to be formed and there would have to be a strong fundraising initiative put forward.
As well, a long list of stakeholders asked to commit would include the Northern Health Regional, Hudbay, a lending institution, Manitoba Housing Renewal Corporation and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
My Take on Snow Lake is published Fridays.
