Rural areas like Bancroft are being overlooked when it comes to affordable housing, in spite of overwhelming need. This came from the Mayor at a recent council meeting, after discovering that the town was not awarded the Housing Accelerator fund**
The town had hoped the fund could aid in the cost of several affordable units on top of Bancroft’s planned new library building North Hastings Inspiration place.
He noted that Bancroft has an older and lower income population than the provincial average:
“With many seniors who live in precarious housing, our project, North Hastings Inspiration Place, is targeting this demographic and will continue to do so.”
The Mayor said this is the second grant they were hoping for and did not receive but that the town continues to be actively looking for other options.
***this was initially mistakenly reported as a provincial grant. The housing accelerator fund is through the CMHC and is federal. The Mayor did not comment on provincial funding.