04/11/2025
Upper Arrow Housing Society Celebrates its First Year
The Upper Arrow Housing Society (UAHS) is proud to celebrate its first year—its mission to support workforce housing in the Nakusp and Upper Arrow Lakes region. As a newly formed society, UAHS has been laying strong foundations and taking significant strides toward addressing the critical housing needs of the community.
“It is my honour to present this year’s report,” says Dawn Driscoll, founding President of UAHS. “We’ve made meaningful progress thanks to the dedication of our board members and the continued commitment of our staff member, Aidan McLaren-Caux, whose work has been instrumental in building our vision for affordable workforce housing.”
Key Accomplishments in Our First Year
• Society Formation: The successful establishment of UAHS under the guidance of the Nakusp and Area Development Board brought together a passionate group of residents determined to create sustainable housing solutions.
• Community-Driven Research: The society distributed surveys to better understand local housing needs. The data collected confirmed a strong demand for workforce housing, helping guide UAHS’s direction and focus.
• Public Engagement: Several public sessions were hosted to involve residents and stakeholders in discussions about housing goals and gather community input and have meaningful engagement.
• Strategic Networking and Learning: Ongoing involvement in regional housing networks and professional development has provided valuable insights, improving UAHS’s ability to advocate effectively for the community.
• Property Exploration: Efforts are underway to identify and secure local properties suitable for the development of multi-family housing units. These pursuits are critical in turning the society’s vision into reality.
• Collaborative Partnerships: UAHS has built strong connections with the Village of Nakusp, local residents, regional stakeholders, and funding organizations. These relationships have been key to creating new opportunities and laying the groundwork for future partnerships.
• Pursuit of Grant Funding: The society has begun applying for grants to fund its housing initiatives. These financial resources will be vital to supporting the administration of the society as well as property acquisition, development projects, and leveraging other resources. We were successful in securing funding from the Community Housing Transformation Centre to support the society over this critical next year.
UAHS is entering Year Two with clear goals:
• Strategic Growth: The society plans to develop a strategic plan with defined short- and long-term objectives, as well as internal policies to guide its continued development.
• Property Acquisition: UAHS remains focused on securing appropriate sites for multi-family housing developments.
• Community Engagement: Additional public engagement opportunities will be scheduled to maintain the ongoing dialogue with the community and provide avenues for important input from residents and business-owners.
• Sustainable Funding: Continuing to pursue grant-funding opportunities and cultivating relationships with supportive partner organizations will be a cornerstone of the society’s strategy for ongoing success.
“I am deeply grateful for the trust and support we’ve received from the community,” says Driscoll. “Together, we can build a more vibrant, inclusive Nakusp for all who live and work here.”
