There is disappointment in Quispamsis after the town was denied federal funding to improve housing in the community.
In September, council voted to apply for $9 million under the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund.
The town recently received a letter from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation saying its application had been denied.
Mayor Libby O’Hara said she believes the federal government did not see eye-to-eye with her community’s plans.
“We’ll keep our heads held high and when you’re disappointed over something you’ll try harder the next time,” O’Hara said in an interview on Wednesday.
O’Hara said the funding would have been used to fix the town’s housing crisis, extend water and wastewater services, improve transportation networks, and for corridor planning along the north and south ends of Hampton Road.
According to a September presentation to council, Quispamsis is facing a housing supply deficit of close to 1,500 units over the next 20 years.
The town is not the only southern New Brunswick community to be denied funding under the program.
St. Stephen, Saint Andrews, Grand Manan, Campbello, Fundy Shores, McAdam, and Eastern Charlotte all had their applications turned down.
A spokesperson for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), which administers the fund, said he was unable to speak to specific applications.
But David Harris said discussions are ongoing with unsuccessful applicants and CMHC is committed to working with all applicants to seek positive housing solutions for their communities through other programs.
“Unfortunately, not all applications could be funded due to the high demand for the [Housing Accelerator Fund]. The evaluation process was highly competitive, with many strong applications received,” Harris wrote in an email.
Harris also pointed us to a list of best practices that have emerged from applicants who have been successful.
With files from Brad Perry.
