The Affordable and Special Needs Housing Task Force will recommend wide ranging changes to the way the city deals with affordable housing. The task force will present a series of recommendations to City Council asking for everything from amendments to by-laws governing secondary suites, to the
creation of a Kelowna Housing Corporation. Council is being asked to relax the zoning process, allowing homeowners the ability to create secondary suites without the need for a public hearing as long as certain criteria is met. A Housing Corporation would have the ability to: Act as a developer and manager of affordable rental and owner-occupied housing. Offer low interest construction loans to individual homeowners to upgrade secondary suites to meet building and servicing requirements. Devise and implement a rent-to-own program. Create a Community Land Trust to form strategic partnerships in the community to receive land for affordable housing.In his report, councilor Norm Letnick says the city has a .6% rental vacancy rate and the second highest median home price in the country. "By implementing our recommendations, the city will be in a better position to realize an increase in the supply of affordable, low cost and special needs housing," says Letnick. Kelowna City Council will review the recommendations Monday.
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