A local group is trying to get a better handle on rental housing needs.
The Lower Columbia Affordable Housing Society has launched a survey, asking about experiences, challenges, and preferences related to rental housing.
“The main goal is to move beyond assumptions and hear directly from the people who live and work here,” said the society’s executive director, Finya Eichhorst.
She said they would like to hear a wide variety of perspectives: current renters, homeowners, people looking for housing, people who own rental properties, run businesses, employ people, or simply care about community’s future.
The society, which has been involved in the development of several housing projects in recent years, such as Rossland Yards and Blizzard Mountain Place in Fruitvale, is always exploring new new opportunities, potential land partnerships, and future housing concepts, Eichhorst said.
“The survey results will help identify priority rental housing needs across this region. We want to inform future housing projects for the low to moderate but also middle income groups and support funding applications, help guide planning and partnerships.”
She said the goal is to make decisions based on community input and local data.
The survey asks about affordability, whether people can find suitable rental housing, what times of homes are needed, and what people can afford. Eichhorst said unlike other housing studies, they are trying to dig a little deeper to understand what features and amenities people prefer, so that when they commit to another project, it is done based on real demands.
The survey, which is open until Aug. 15, takes five to 10 minutes to complete and can be filled out here. Paper copies are also available at Rossland and Trail city halls, as well as the Rossland, Trail, and Beaver Valley libraries.
It’s part of a broader study that will include interviews with major employers, local realtors, and other community organizations. The society says those conversations are intended to glean additional insight into rental supply, market conditions, and recruitment and rentention challanges, among other things.
