Champlain Township council received a quick lesson on the action plan for dealing with affordable housing and homelessness issues in Prescott-Russell.

Jennifer Lambert, housing plan coordinator from the social services department of the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR), presented township council with a power-point presentation during its March 26 session of the UCPR’s 10-year action plan for addressing affordable housing needs and homelessness situations in the region.

“It (action plan) is to ensure access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing,” said Lambert. “This plan is a roadmap for a full range of continuums.”

Lambert noted that some of the key findings of UCPR research on the issues of affordable housing and homelessness include: a high demand for supportive housing in the region, a lack of emergency shelters available, differences between UCPR member municipalities about their local housing needs, and increasing pressure for more housing as the UCPR’s overall population increases and also as the number of senior residents who need affordable housing increases.

The 10-year action covers the period between 2024 to 2034, listing various strategies for the UCPR and local municipalities to pursue to deal with affordable housing needs and the issue of homelessness.

Mayor Normand Riopel noted that since the COVID-19 pandemic “everything has changed” and it is “more essential” now for government at all levels to form partnerships with other sectors to try and deal with local housing needs and issues.