It looks like a community within a community.
A walking path leads from Second Avenue through a collection of small homes opposite Northwest Community College. A communal yard will be landscaped in the spring, adding to the feel of a mini community in the heart of Smithers.
These six new houses were built by the Smithers Community Services Association (SCSA) as a way to fill a bit of the need for affordable rental housing in the area. No government grants were used to construct the cozy abodes.
“The idea was providing something affordable, but also providing just some options in the community around housing size and ways for people to look at really how much space they need. Just considering ‘do I really need this gigantic home or could I live in something smaller where my energy footprint’s smaller’,” said SCSA director Cathryn Olmstead.
The 540-square-foot homes are going for $750 per month and include a washer, dryer, fridge and stove. Applications are at scsa.ca/housing.