One of two Red Deer housing boards is expressing concerns over the way a planning document on possible amalgamation was created in the first place.
The Piper Creek Foundation’s board has voted against The Way Forward, a report created by Alberta Municipal Affairs and City of Red Deer. That report suggested amalgamating the foundation and the Red Deer Housing Authority as a way that could possibly better serve the community.
Geoff Olson, executive director of the foundation, said the board doesn’t seem to support the planning document.
“But there are some commonalities on the goals,” said Olson after city council accepted the report on Monday.
Olson said the issue around the planning document centres on process.
“Both boards passed a planning document of their own last October that set out a process to move forward,” said Olson. “Nothing really happened with that and then there were discussions behind the scenes that neither organization was aware of, and that caused some angst.”
The housing authority administers 309 community housing units located in Red Deer, Sylvan Lake and Innisfail. They consist of duplexes, townhouses, single family houses, a 26 suite apartment building, and a 10 suite apartment building.
The foundation specifically provides affordable housing for seniors of modest means.
The report says the province and the city have been considering options and as a result this has “created a heightened level of uncertainty among the organizations.”
An ad-hoc strategy team for the two levels of government has been struck on the issue. It created the report and is suggesting holding further talks with both housing bodies.
The ad-hoc team believes that citizens will benefit from a unified body because a single point of entry decreases confusion among citizens and increases opportunities to leverage resources.
A meeting will be held on May 23 to further discuss the proposed amalgamation.
Olson said it’s important that all four parties are at the table and all of the time.
“That’s a key message that everybody has to keep an eye on,” said Olson.
Jefferies said these organizations have served a great purpose, so she thinks that this meeting will be an exciting one. But she recognizes too that “change is ahead.”
Coun. Tara Veer said the outcome is not presumed, so that is a good thing.
“I think community is more effective at delivering these kinds of services,” said Veer.
In other council news:
• First reading is given to rezone a lot in Eastview at 3818 44th St. to allow the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity organization to build its affordable housing project, a three-unit row house. A public hearing will be held on May 28.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com