Two years after releasing their Affordable Housing Strategy, a Lacombe Committee is excited to see their plans become a reality.

The strategy looked at ways to make housing more affordable in Lacombe, for it's middle or low income earners.

The Lacombe Affordable Housing Steering Committee released their Affordable Housing Strategy in the summer of 2015, with some programs already being rolled out in response.

Committee Chair Outi Kite says this year they'll continue to work on those programs.

"Habitat for Humanity, the 4 units that they're working on right now will be completed by July. So there are 4 households that will have affordable ownership there. Then for the down payment assistance grant program, we have 4 applicants in the process of signing up. So that means we'd have 7 more units available."

But most importantly Kite says compared to surrounding communities, Lacombe is ahead of the pack.

"We really are ahead. Like all the surrounding communities are just starting to work on their housing plans. That's the whole housing spectrum, from homelessness to what the private market looks like, but Lacombe has already identified these problems already. So we've had this plan in place for a couple of years, and it's exciting to finally fill in the gaps."

Kite says looking ahead to what's in store this year, they'll also be deciding where they can spend some remaining infrastructure funding Lacombe received from the Province for affordable housing.

The committee is still looking for applicants in their down payment assessment program that helps middle income earners who are looking to buy a home, but can't afford the down payment right now.

More information can be found here http://www.lacombe.ca/living/down-payment-assistance-program