affordable housingGrey County, the Municipality of Meaford and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute Lakeland District are hosting a Mayor's Forum to discuss attainable housing trends and needs in the area.

The event will run on April 6th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will feature discussions about topics such as tiny homes, life lease communities, Canadian Municipal Housing Corporation (CMHC) programs, local updates, a panel discussion on barriers and much more.

"Attainable housing is an issue that is felt throughout our region", says Meaford Mayor Barb Clumpus. "The extraordinary housing boom over the past few years has highlighted concerns in attracting and retaining a skilled workforce, addressing the accommodation needs of our seniors and retirees, and providing housing that meets the needs of young families. We are striving to start the conversation that will inspire new paths to explore and creative solutions to uncover."

The forum is open to the public and will be valuable for anyone with an interest in attainable housing, including housing providers, elected officials, municipal staff, developers, planners, real estate agents, economic development officers and not-for-profit services. The cost for the event is $35 or $15 for students. Tickets include lunch and refreshments and can be purchased through the Ontario Professional Planners Institute website at https://events.ontarioplanners.ca

The agenda has a wide range of experts including:

Andrew Siegwart, President, Blue Mountain Village Association
Anne Marie Shaw, Director of Housing, Grey County
Rob Armstrong, Director of Planning, Meaford
Jamie Shipley, Knowledge Transfer & Outreach, CMHC
Anthony Adrien, Affordable Housing Consultant, CMHC
Cynthia Cabral and Tyler Shantz, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Robert Voigt – Parkbridge Communities
Jessica Flynn, Founder and Owner, Funky Bunkies
David Black, Deputy Chief Building Official, Town of the Blue Mountains
Stuart Doyle, Barry's Construction
David Stobbe, Suite Spots
Sylvia Statham, Lutheran Social Services
Darcy Chapman, Treasurer, Meaford
Liz Buckton, Senior Planner, Meaford
Scott Taylor, Senior Planner, Grey County

The full agenda can be found on Grey.ca and Meaford.ca. For more information please contact Grey County or the Municipality of Meaford.

source: media release, Grey County