A local organization has put forward the operational plan for a 12 million dollar affordable housing project in Moncton.
The Rising Tide community initiative is hoping to receive six million dollars from the city to help the community’s homeless population.
The project aims to create 125 units across the city by 2023.
Spokesperson Dale Hicks says the city’s engagement would help put pressure on other levels of government to contribute the remaining 6 million necessary to get the project started.
Councillor Susan Edgett has concerns about how the city will come up with the funds.
“One of the options is probably looking at a raise in taxes and that’s a really big decision for us and I think we need to understand more of the operations and how well it’s going to be managed, how we’re going to get there because we’re going to be a big partner in this and we’re going to be accountable to our taxpayers,” she says.
Councillor Charles Leger echoed her concerns but says the project is an investment in social infrastructure.
“It’s a very novel approach that can be replicated in many other areas so we’re certainly going to have to make sure that there is a strong operational plan, and there is one, and that there is accountability for these tax dollars because they are very large tax dollars,” he says.
Recommendations are expected to be made at the November 2nd City Council meeting.
