Islanders encouraged to share their struggle with affordable housing

Islanders will be given a chance to speak about the critical lack of affordable housing which effect communities provincewide.

The Fight for Affordable Housing: Reclaiming our Communities wants to give participates a chance to share their stories and suggest potential solutions at a grassroots level and press for change. It will be held today at 6:30 p.m. at the P.E.I. Farm Centre.

Speakers will share their thoughts about provincial, national and municipal housing polices and strategies, as well as discuss the current housing supply and effects a lack of affordability has on Island life.

Rosalind Waters, organizer of the event, sees this as an opportunity to expand the conversation on housing.

Waters thinks gentrification is part of the problem, she stated in a press release.

“While some people make money, cities and towns are becoming more and more unaffordable for people living on low or modest incomes.”

A woman from Summerside will also speak about her experience of mobilizing her community when tenants of a trailer park were evicted from their homes with few options for relocation.

Group discussions will follow a panel presentation.

Amiee Power, another organizer of the event, thinks it is important people have a chance to take part in conversation.

“We really want to join voices together and work together to actually reclaim our communities,” she said in a news release.