An Orillia group seeking to eliminate homelessness in the city and region is hoping the newly elected Orillia Council will move quickly on the issue.
Chair of the Simcoe County Alliance to end Homelessness, Joyce Ward says a major problem in the city and county is a lack of affordable housing.
Ward says one of the reasons this is such a serious problem is that the income levels in Orillia dont match the house prices and rents that are charged here.
She says this lack of affordable housing does not just extend to people who are typically disadvantaed like the unemployed and challenged but to people who are holding down several jobs and making just minimum wage.
Ward says the situation for these people is so desperate, they have to make decisions about whether to spend money on rent or use that money to buy food or pay for heating.
She says last year the Orillia developed and adopted an affordable housing action plan that contained some 34 recommendatios on what can be done to improve the situation.
Ward is now hoping the new council will move forward on some of those suggestions and incorporate some if not all of the plan it in its strategic plan for future years.
Another positive sign according to Ward is the hiring by the city of an Affordable Housing Action Plan consultant.
She says the consultant will be looking at policies surrounding housing development to see what kind of approaches the city can take to stimulate the creation of more affordable housing.
Ward is confident the new Orillia council can do a lot to establish creative strategic solutions to the local shelter shortages.
