The production of 250 modular homes is being fast-tracked by the Alberta government to support Jasper residents who lost their homes in the July 24 wildfire.

Yesterday (October 21), alongside Mayor Richard Ireland, West Yellowhead MLA Martin Long and Evergreens Foundation CAO Kristin Chambers, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Jason Nixon announced $112 million of provincial funding to build interim housing for displaced Jasperites and residents of Pine Grove Senior Citizens Manor. 

“These are not temporary structures or camps,” Nixon said. “These will be permanent homes that will be fully serviced, and will provide a safe place to call home for displaced Jasperites.”

The units will be a mix of shared accommodation, and two and three-bedroom units.

The news was received with gratitude by Mayor Ireland, who called the funding a “veritable lifeline for residents who’ve faced tremendous challenges.”

“For us this housing is more than simply replacing structures, it is inextricably linked to our social and our economic recovery,” Ireland said.

Nearly 2,000 residents were displaced when the Jasper Wildfire Complex destroyed approximately 350 mostly-residential structures in the community, including more than 850 housing units.   

“Families and individuals have been uprooted, unsettled and left so vulnerable,” Ireland said. “By creating safe, secure and appropriate places to live, we’re fostering a sense of belonging, which is vital for community healing.”

The province also announced support for displaced residents of Pine Grove Manor, which was destroyed in the wildfire.

Up to 25 units of modular housing will be built for seniors in Hinton on a site donated to the project by the Town of Hinton. These units will later be used as affordable housing for the community, Nixon said. Work on these sites is expected to begin in January and the first seniors are expected to begin moving in as early as April. 

“This announcement makes good on a promise from the Minister…made to us in the early hours after the loss of our seniors facility,” Chambers said. “This housing solution will help displaced Jasper seniors but will also be a long term investment in housing for the West Yellowhead region.”

After it serves its purpose for those who lost their homes in the fire, the high-end modular housing in Jasper will be integrated into the community’s general rental housing stock, Nixon said.

“These 250 units would be needed even if there wasn’t a fire,” Nixon said. “This is one of the unique opportunities from this solution that the province is presenting for Jasper.”

Site servicing on four of the five parcels where the interim housing will be set up has already begun. The first units are anticipated to be available for occupation by January, Nixon said.

He added that the interim housing units will be provided at market rent.

“Applications and eligibility details will be released in the future,” he said.

Units in Jasper will be sold at market value when they are no longer required for interim housing for Jasper recovery.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com