Anyone who has spent some time in Jasper will likely concur that finding a place to live in this picturesque town can be nearly impossible.
With a vacancy rate that is non-existent and houses that have more people than beds, Jasper’s acute housing shortage is an issue residents are all too familiar with.
While it’s easy to point out the problem, finding a solution is where things get difficult.
The biggest problem hindering the town’s ability to resolve the issue is the fact that the municipality of Jasper does not have jurisdiction over land use and development. This control resides with Parks Canada, which has historically been reluctant to allow the town to expand, even within the town limits.
By limiting the town’s ability to grow, it not only ignores the fact that Jasper is bursting at its seams, but it also discourages the private sector from attempting to build new housing.
Unfortunately it’s highly unlikely Parks Canada will cede its authority, leaving Jasper to come up with its own solutions.
One of those solutions should include building more housing for senior citizens, and here’s why.
Many senior citizens who live in Jasper are homeowners who own large, multi-bedroom homes that they no longer need or want. These seniors often have the financial resources to move, but have nowhere to go because there are no housing options that cater to their needs. With very few options (other than leaving town) they are essentially stuck holding onto a property that could help alleviate Jasper’s housing shortage.
While it’s nearly impossible to figure out the number of seniors who want to downsize, there are at least 26 seniors in Jasper waiting for housing with The Evergreens Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides affordable housing for seniors in the region.
Building housing for seniors would not only eliminate this waiting list, it would also be the economically prudent and the morally right thing to do.
Several weeks ago details emerged that a senior citizen in Jasper was evicted from their home and had stay at the hospital because there were no rooms available.
Dumping the problem onto the health care system is an expensive solution that is morally reprehensible.
Senior citizens have spent their entire lives working hard to make this community what it is today and deserve to live with dignity and respect, not in a hospital.
If we value our senior population the least we can do is provide them with affordable housing and the proper care that they deserve and if it helps alleviate Jasper’s housing shortage, even better.
