Mark Holmgren's Blog
The recent reports of community resistance to a Capital Region Housing proposed development in Keheewin are yet one more example of the NIMBY-YIMBY quagmire we cannot seem to prevent. I read Councillor Walters' remarks in the Journal, which I found to be balanced and, to be transparent, they resonated with me, but there are a … Continue reading Access to Affordable Housing is a (Complex) Human Right
The challenges we face with respect to building more affordable housing are complex to state the obvious, and resolving them calls for an integrated set of strategies that go far beyond the actual building of more housing. Here are some of the challenges we need to address: AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN ECONOMIC PROBLEM People cannot … Continue reading Affordable Housing is an Economic Problem
Banff, Alberta. Located in one of the most beautiful areas in Canada. People come from all over the world by the bus loads. There is money being made for sure. Nothing wrong with making money, right? The hotel industry does alright. I perused hotels there via Expedia and most of the rooms available were $400 … Continue reading Working yet Homeless in Banff, Alberta
Note: In addition to writing about community change and penning commentary, I am a story teller. I write fiction and spoken word. This piece is a mix of fact and fiction, often called "faction." One of my small luxuries in life is having someone come to my house weekly and clean it. I tell myself … Continue reading LIVING POOR: KAREN’S STORY
As some of you know, I have written about and I am continuing to work on what I call a Game-Changer Approach to Poverty Reduction Strategy and Evaluation. You can read my initial paper HERE. And a recording of a webinar I did with Mark Cabaj is HERE. I have been asked about the difference … Continue reading More about the Game-Changer Approach to Poverty Reduction
The City of Edmonton has launched a new website about the need for more affordable housing located across the city in order to ensure that all citizens have a safe and affordable place to live. When people have to spend too much of their income on housing, they are forced to let other things go. Often they … Continue reading Affordable Housing is a solution not a problem
