In the communities of Melfort and St. Brieux, Saskatchewan, local business leaders recognized a need for affordable and accessible housing. The region is known as the “Iron Triangle” because of the growth of manufacturing, agri-business, and mining in the area. The communities expect to need more than 600 new homes to accommodate the workers that come with all that economic activity.
Local leaders including representatives of the credit union, Co-op, municipalities, and industry players decided to lead a project to start a housing co-operative to help meet the need. They knew not only that housing stock was low, but that rural rental rates didn’t make the area profitable for private developers. Using the co-op model, they knew they could take the solution into their own hands, and capitalize on funding programs like the Canadian Housing Development Program.
Eventually, the founding members want to turn control of the housing co-op over to the people who will live there.
Co-operatives First was thrilled to help with the planning and incorporation of the North East Housing Co-op, and would love to see the creation of more housing co-ops across western Canada.