By Emily Stonehouse

Changes are on the horizon for local housing initiative Places for People (P4P); a major theme that came out of this year’s AGM, held at the Haliburton Curling Club on Nov. 8.

With 60 people in attendance, it was no secret that housing is top of mind for board members and community members alike. “We have to thank the community,” said Susan Tromanhauser, board member of P4P. “I really have to praise this community for showing up.”

Tromanhauser noted three major points they discussed during the AGM. Firstly, they celebrated their partnership with Peterborough’s Habitat for Humanity; a collaboration made official in September of this year. The two housing-dedicated organizations have committed to building a 35-unit affordable housing co-build on Peninsula Road in Haliburton; a project that is already in motion.

The second major point was around discussing recruiting new volunteers to the organization. “We’ve grown very quickly over the last couple of years,” said Tromanhauser, noting the 20 units P4P owns locally, as well as the two units they manage. “We have to keep our focus on affordable housing, and we’re maxed out. Our board is exhausted.”

Tromanhauser recognizes that the commitment to boards is challenging for many, but the organization is seeking both volunteer support, as well as an opportunity for a full-time paid position. “As much as we’re proud of how we’ve expanded,” said Tromanhauser, “it’s not nearly enough.”

Currently, approximately 40 per cent of Haliburton County residents spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing, allowing them to fall into the bracket of need for affordable housing. “We’ve really been focusing on worker housing,” said Tromanhauser, noting that many employers are struggling to secure staff based on a lack of housing in the region.

The third major point came with an audible gasp in the room when it was announced. Fay Martin, founder of Place for People, will be stepping down as director of the board. “She will still be involved with P4P, of course,” said Tromanhauser. “But she will be stepping aside to focus on bigger picture things.”

“Let’s step back 20 years or so to 2005,” opened Max Ward at the AGM. “It was then that Fay had the idea of creating an organization to provide affordable, appropriate, supportive housing.

She wanted to address the need that she could see in the community.”

Ward has been affiliated with P4P alongside Martin for nearly two decades. He noted the constant increase in need around affordable housing, and the frustrations that arose due to lack of consideration. “Instead of waiting for someone else to do it, she did it,” said Ward. “Fay helped to organize people and convinced others of her vision and here we are today.”

Martin has been active in the community since she first arrived in Haliburton, when a one-year contract as the coordinator of social services turned into a 15-year commitment and the development of Point in Time.

“Fay’s work with Places for People tirelessly focused on advocacy,” said Ward. “One way that Fay was able to advocate and spread that helpful influence was to work with Tapestry Community Capital. Through Tapestry, she was able to spread the word to other regions how to invest in their own communities through Community bonds.”

Many would recognize Martin’s name through our regular columns, Poke, Peel, Pare and Ponder, which run bi-weekly in this newspaper. “In pursuit of life-long learning, Fay has traveled to Germany and the Netherlands to learn more about homes supporting people with dementia,” said Ward. “Fay is a valued academic, researcher and community builder.”

When asked about next steps during a later interview, Martin reflected on her time with P4P. “Birthing and nurturing Places for People to young adulthood has been both a challenge and a pleasure, as anything truly worthwhile is,” she said. “I am confident I am leaving it in good hands.  As my father said when he handed  me off to the big world at age 18 – i’ve done the best I can, and now it’s time to see how good a job I did.”

Martin noted that she is grateful to be given an ancillary emeritus role, which allows her to continue to match-make people and ideas into action, including positioning P4P and Haliburton County in its place in the larger housing world. “Ambiguously happy to leave the day-to-day work to younger hands,” she said.

While the AGM wrapped up, P4P was pleasantly surprised by a cheque from the Thrift Shop in Minden through St. Peter’s Anglican Church on Invergordon Avenue. The organization received $10,000 for their efforts. “We are so grateful for that,” said Tromanhauser. “We can’t rest on our laurels. We have to keep the focus on affordable housing.”