Help Shape the Future of Housing in Rainy River District

Fort Frances, Ontario – 2025/05/26 – The District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB) is inviting residents to share their voice and help shape the next five-year Housing and Homelessness Plan.
The updated 5-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan will outline current and future housing needs across the Rainy River District, identify local priorities, and guide meaningful action. As housing affordability, availability, and support needs continue to evolve, it’s critical that the plan reflects the real experiences of people living in the district.

To help shape the plan, DRRSB is encouraging residents to participate in both community conversations and a district-wide survey. Input gathered through these tools will directly inform the priorities and strategies included in the final plan.

Community Conversations
In-person community sessions are being held across the district to gather local input:

• Atikokan – Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, Atikokan Employment Centre
• Rainy River – Thursday, June 12, 2025, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, Legion
• Emo – Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, Legion
• Fort Frances – Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, Fifth & Frenette (Former St. Michael’s School)

District-Wide Survey
In addition to the in-person sessions, DRRSB has launched a Housing & Homelessness Survey to gather broader community input. The survey is anonymous, takes about 10 minutes to complete, and is available online, through social media, by QR code, and in paper form at various community locations. The survey will be open until June 30, 2025.

“Your input is valuable in our future planning,” says Brenda Witherspoon-Bedard, Community Engagement Coordinator – Homelessness. “We want to ensure the Housing and Homelessness Plan reflects the real needs of the people who live in our district — from seniors to young families, to those who have struggled to find or maintain housing.”

Everyone is encouraged to attend a session or complete the survey — every voice helps build a more informed, responsive plan for our communities.

-30-

Contact:

Heather Latter, Communications Officer, District of Rainy River Services Board, 807-274-5349 ext. 243 or heather.latter@rrdssab.ca