Residents in Coalhurst have the chance to voice their opinions on housing in the community as the municipality has launched a survey to better understand housing needs.
Officials say the survey should only take about 10 minutes to finish and is open to current, past and prospective residents of the southern Alberta town.
“We know that choosing a place to call home is about much more than finding a place to live. It’s about finding the right fit for your family – whether that’s related to your budget, lifestyle, proximity to services, or type and size of home,” says Heather Caldwell, chair of the Community Housing Advisory Committee.
“The individual needs of a community are diverse and widespread,” she adds.
“We want to know whether we’re hitting the mark or if we need to make changes to better fit residents’ needs.”
The goal of the questionnaire is to help the committee better understand any barriers residents are facing and find creative solutions to make life in Coalhurst more attainable and sustainable.
“We want to hear from current residents, but also from those who have lived here before and moved away,” Caldwell states.
“We want to understand why they chose to leave Coalhurst and whether a change in housing options or services may have kept them in our community. It’s critical that we hear from a range of people and learn from their experience.”
Survey answers will stay anonymous and will be used to guide the committee’s next steps in making housing, development and land use recommendations to town council to make sure the right mix of housing types and features are available to meet community needs.
The survey is available on the Town of Coalhurst website and is open until Monday, October 21, 2024.
