Non-profit affordable housing providers have been awarded three parcels of City of Calgary land in the communities of Bowness, Erlton and Parkdale, creating about 100 new affordable homes for Calgarians. “To help address the housing crisis, it’s important we create more homes in all neighbourhoods throughout Calgary,” said City of Calgary Manager of Housing Solutions Tim Ward in a Monday press release. “That includes increasing the supply of non-market housing.” The City of Calgary said its non-market housing land sale aligns with Outcome #1 in the Calgary Housing Strategy, which is to increase the supply of housing to meet demand and increase affordability. It added it is a pivotal step in addressing the housing crisis Calgary is experiencing. Land located in Bowness was awarded to Trellis Society for Community Impact, land in Erlton was given to the Calgary Dream Centre, and a parcel in Parkdale went to Liberty Housing Organization.The sites were offered at below market value as part of the Calgary Housing Strategy to release up to ten parcels of developable land every two years to increase the capacity of non-profit affordable housing providers. The city said the sales will help non-profit housing providers spend less capital funds on the acquisition of land, which frees them up to invest more money in the development of housing for Calgarians.This is the city’s third non-profit land sale. The first two sales created about 290 affordable homes for vulnerable people. The city committed to address the housing crisis by implementing the 81 actions in its housing plan to ensure everyone in Calgary has an affordable place to call home. “We are privileged to partner with these three non-profit affordable housing providers to benefit all Calgarians, especially those in greatest need of a safe place to call home,” said Ward. Calgary city council voted 12-3 to pass its proposed Housing Strategy on September 16. READ MORE: Calgary city council votes to enact Housing Strategy“Council made an important move to help Calgarians with housing affordability tonight,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek..The three councillors who voted against the motion were Dan McLean, Peter Demong and Sean Chu.
