Community Housing

The islands in the trust area support strong communities characterized by a mix of lifestyles, livelihoods and individuals. Island residents join together to bring special skills and viewpoints to sustain a tradition of community involvement. Because the islands are close to major population centres they are attractive for vacation properties. But with absentee owners, who volunteers for the local fire department? Who provides needed services? How do we ensure that our communities continue to function as real  neighbourhoods, rather than resort or tourist  destinations full of temporary visitors?

In recent years, the price of real estate on the islands has risen at a much greater rate than local incomes. Suitable year-round rental accommodation can be hard to find. These factors make it increasingly difficult to sustain communities that are affordable to the people who live and work on the islands. There are also the challenges presented by an increasing proportion of senior residents.

Local trust committees are looking for new ways to make sure housing is available to support the community diversity that the islands are known for, while maintaining the character and environmental integrity of the islands themselves. The Islands Trust Council is supporting local trust committees in addressing housing, such as by developing information on planning options.

However, local communities also need the involvement of islanders in identifying and implementing appropriate housing solutions for each community. Local trust committees, through their land use planning authority, can provide only opportunities for housing initiatives. The actual creation of housing must be carried out by partnerships involving interested residents and property owners, non-government organizations and government agencies.

This section of the web-site is intended to provide information that will assist islanders' participation in local planning processes and housing initiatives to sustain the vibrancy of island communities.