Edmundston hopes to build affordable, accessible housing units

Finding an affordable place to live is a challenge for many, but finding housing that is both affordable and accessible can be even more difficult. 

For people in Edmundston who have disabilities, there is good news on the horizon, as the city hopes to approve an affordable and accessible housing project by the end of February. 

It would include three buildings with eight units in each, and tenants would be expected to pay no more than 30 per cent of their income. 

“The kitchen is modified, the windows are lower so if people are in a wheelchair they can see outside,” said Isabelle Laplante, senior coordinator of economic development and housing for the City of Edmundston.

The city approached Quebec non-profit Logement HAN after a housing needs assessment and survey found many residents were unable to find housing that meets their needs. 

“We do have a lot of citizens that need specific accommodation adaptations in their housing and they do not find it right now,” Laplante said. 

The non-profit has developed more than 300 universally designed housing units in Quebec for people with physical or intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and seniors requiring accessible housing. 

Their designs also include wider doorways and hallways as well as accessible lighting systems. 

Laplante said there’s no doubt the units will fill up fast. 

“Since we started talking about it … I'm receiving a call every day from someone from the city asking ‘how do I put my name on the list?’” she said.

Accessible housing needed province wide, advocates say

The need for accessible and affordable housing comes as no surprise to Haley Flaro, the executive director of Ability New Brunswick. 

“New Brunswick has the second highest rate of disability in Canada,” she said. 

“We've been behind in New Brunswick in terms of developing universally designed accessible housing and as a result there is significant shortage.” 

Flaro said universal design isn’t necessarily more expensive than traditional design. 

“We need more units, we need better designed units, universal designed units that people can age in place," she said.

When asked how accessible housing in New Brunswick compares to the rest of the country, Flaro said we need to be looking inward. 

“We need to be looking to ourselves because we're actually leading in something that people don't want to lead in,” she said. “That's the oldest population in Canada and high disability rates.”

Laplante said the next step in Edmundston is to conduct a feasibility study, which could include testing the soil on the desired site that was once home to an old park. 

She’s hoping that if all goes well construction can start by the end of the summer.