Thank you very much.
First I'd like to thank the committee for allowing me the opportunity to come and present.
Poverty is an issue that affects all of us, particularly now with the rate of homelessness and the price of housing throughout the Lower Mainland. People of all ages are at risk, but our seniors and youth are particularly vulnerable.
Our residents need services, programs, transportation, housing options, and support to break the cycle of poverty, and we have a role to play. With the co-operation of the Township of Langley, that means working to provide a variety of affordable housing options that meet the needs of residents of all ages, incomes, and stages of life.
Living on a fixed income is a concern for many of our senior citizens, and two years ago, the Township of Langley was formally recognized as an age-friendly community by the Province of British Columbia. We have adopted an age-friendly strategy that features 52 initiatives that encompass everything from social inclusion to employment to health services to housing. Langley township's age-friendly strategy promotes aging in place and creation of adaptable homes. We encourage builders to think about offering these features when they are creating homes in our community.
Until about three years ago, the Township of Langley had no suites within it that were legal, and council adopted and allowed illegal suites. We estimate that currently we have approximately 6,000 suites being registered. Through that registration, they have to meet the building code safety requirements and everything else. It's just one more form of allowing people to find suitable residency at a fair market price.
Secondary suites also provide a great format for affordable housing. The township has put in a licensing fee and strict bylaws to ensure suites are legal and safe.
Manufactured home parks are another option for those needing affordable housing. For those of you who are not familiar with the township, we have six communities within our jurisdiction, six mini-cities, and we have six manufactured, large, modular mobile parks.
A couple of years ago, in an effort to protect them, council created a policy that is more restrictive than provincial regulations for manufactured parks, so they will work with the.... If somebody wanted to sell that property, I've created the packages and the policies that say what the person has to do for the residents of the park, to subsidize them and pay for certain things if they are going to sell it, if they are going to rezone the park.
As well, the creation of additional manufactured home parks would be considered by council if someone were to come forward with such a proposal.
Rental housing is becoming more in demand, and more units are being built. In the package I've put up, this is phase one. This is already completed, and it's in Willoughby. It's all rental units. Phase two will be the same, and it will all be rental units too.