The Town of Edson has adopted a housing strategy in an effort to address local housing challenges and future growth.
The development process for the 2025 Edson Housing Strategy began last year with a Housing Needs Assessment conducted by ISL Engineering and Planning.
According to that assessment, 78 per cent of the town’s housing was constructed before 2001 and current projections estimate 63 to 130 new homes will be needed by 2029. Across the town’s 3,385 households, 69.4 per cent own their home while 30.7 per cent rent.
The assessment also indicates a need for more diverse housing types, more affordable rental units and supportive housing solutions for seniors, Indigenous residents and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Guided by these findings, the 2025 Housing Strategy outlines five core goals:
- Facilitate diverse housing options;
- Increase the supply of rental housing while maintaining the quality of existing units;
- Maintain and adapt the existing housing stock;
- Increase availability of short-term and supportive housing; and
- Adapt housing priorities to evolving community needs.
To work toward these goals, the strategy includes 12 objectives with 41 associated concrete actions to be implemented within 10 years.
Officials say these actions will include policy and bylaw amendments, infrastructure planning, advocacy, and the exploration of financial incentives to reduce development barriers.
A table outlining the five core goals and associated 12 objectives in the 2025 Edson Housing Strategy. (Town of Edson/Council agenda)
Town council adopted the strategy during its regularly scheduled meeting on May 20.
