A group that aims to tackle the affordable housing shortage in Renfrew County is gaining momentum.
North Algona Wilberforce is the latest municipality to get behind the Affordable Housing Alliance of Ottawa Valley.
Its council voted this month to support the alliance and begin advertising a home sharing service called Sparrow Share to its residents. Alliance spokesperson Ish Theilheimer explains.
“The idea is it connects people who have spare bedrooms with people who are looking for places to live,” he says.
“This will be especially helpful for seniors who are living in homes and have budget issues and helpful to single people looking for homes.”
“What’s really great about this service is they take great pains to match people up who are compatible. They’re legitimate. They help you through the legal steps and financial steps. It’s a great idea. There are a lot of unused bedrooms and there are a lot of people who need them.”
Theilheimer says it’s not yet known when the service will be available to residents as details on the agreement still need to be worked out. But he expects it will be used well. Sparrow Share estimates there are 5 million empty bedrooms in Ontario that could be rented out.
Theilheimer says the Alliance hopes to have projects or committees working in each Renfrew County municipality.
In addition to North Algoma Wilbeforce, the group has already made inroads in Madawaska Valley, Killaloe Hagarty Richards, Bonnechere Valley and Pembroke.