REBOUND Owen Sound presents Our Community Working Together For Housing Solutions, a panel-led discussion with local housing advocates exploring what is possible and public discussion moderated by Director of Housing for Grey County, Anne Marie Shaw. 

Join them Thursday, Mar. 23, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Harmony Centre, 9th Street East, Owen Sound.

According to Policy Options magazine: “Housing affordability in Ontario has reached crisis levels. Home prices and rents in many of its cities are among the highest in Canada, while rental vacancy rates are returning to pre-pandemic lows. Restoring housing affordability will require more than mere housing construction.” 

But what exactly is the crisis, what is causing it, and how can it be solved? Our panellists include: 

• Carol Merton – City Councillor, Owen Sound
• Marilyn Struthers – Facilitator, Social Finance and Housing Learning Group, The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay
• Liz Buckton – Senior Policy Planner, County of Grey
• Francesca Dobbyn – United Way Executive Director

Canada has declared that housing, like healthcare, is a human right (via the National Housing Strategy Act, enacted in 2019). This requires that both the private sector and multiple levels of government must work together, and on a scale as large as the problem (Clark, 2022). 

This gathering is an opportunity for all community members to learn and engage in this most pressing issue that has the potential to affect all residents of Grey County regardless of socio-economic status. Participants will leave with real, tangible, and effective solutions anyone can do to help chip away at this multifaceted problem. Come find out what each of us can do. 

Please  bring your solutions, research and ideas. 

For more information contact Jan Chamberlain: janc47@gmail.com or 519.270.6346.

Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/groups/reboundowensound 

Donations in the form of money or much needed toiletries / goods for Safe ’N Sound drop-in and community support centre are welcome and even encouraged.

source: media release