River Bank's newest affordable home on Knowles Place. (Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Affordable Home

River Bank set to house another P.A. family in affordable home

Jun 8, 2022 | 2:00 PM

A Prince Albert family will soon get to move into a new home at a cheaper cost.

The River Bank Development Corporation held a ribbon-cutting event on Wednesday to celebrate the near completion of another affordable home.

Brian Howell, general manager of the corporation, said this house will go a long way in helping a family truly committed to the community.

“We’re looking for people who are moving here with some sense of purpose, many of our tenants are going to school or working part-time and really need the benefit of some housing support.”

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The hope is to have the family, which still hasn’t been chosen, move in by the end of the month. Work still needs to be done on the roof, backyard, and basement. The rent will be around three-fourths what most people would pay for a four or five-bedroom place.

Once completed, it will mark the 112^th affordable home River Bank has created since 2001. This latest unit is part of the province’s ‘Homes of Hope’ project. The province is covering around 66 per cent of the cost, while River Bank is paying for the rest, though they did receive a grant from the municipality to help.

Prince Albert Northcote MLA Alana Ross spoke on behalf of Social Services Minister and Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) Gene Makowsky at the ribbon-cutting. Also in attendance was P.A. Mayor Greg Dionne who shared his thoughts on the importance of these homes.

“Housing, food, and water are a right every Canadian should have.”

Meanwhile, finding places for future affordable housing may be tough.

Howell noted they’ve already found two places that should be ready for families to move in by the end of the year, but they’re still looking for at least two more.

He believes it may be hard finding these other units.

“Especially if some of the (projects) go ahead like the pulp mill, the sawmill, also the increase in refugees that are coming here.”

Once they find the two spaces, River Bank plans on taking a break from creating affordable homes and will instead start looking at other units like apartments.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow