AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD BE PRIORITY FOR NEW COUNCIL

OSOYOOS TIMES-October 22, 2008

It's no secret that Osoyoos has a really big affordable housing problem.

This issue has been covered in this newspaper, discussed within Osoyoos council chambers and championed by several community groups.

But the symptoms of this problem seem to be growing worse.

Recent stories in this newspaper have outlined enrolment problems at Osoyoos's schools and childcare facilities.

This year, Osoyoos Secondary School experienced one of the largest enrolment declines in School District 53.

Many believe this drop in student numbers is because young people who are having children cannot afford to move to and live in this area.

Fewer younger people mean fewer bodies to take over the reigns of the various non-profit and charitable organizations that give our community its spirit.

When the members of such groups grow too old to manage their responsibilities or move away, will there be anyone to take over?

Every story heard about Osoyoos's shrinking youth population is echoed by a story about one community organization or another fretting over shrinking membership pools.

None of these comments are new, but now is the time to stress such concerns.

In a matter of weeks we'll have a new council faced with a great many challenges.

Along with tackling the difficult issues of keeping the lake healthy and improving medical infrastructure in the area, let us hope they work to make this community a more affordable place to live before it's too late.

If we're going to continue to allow such large-scale development, let's put pressure on the builders to provide not only habitat for the rich, but spaces for young families or people with lower incomes.

And let's push the province to put just as much cash and support into our affordable housing needs as they put into backing our tourism industry.