We understand that Jasperites are facing so much uncertainty, especially when it comes to housing. We are working hard to increase available options and encourage residents to explore housing solutions on their own as well.
This page details what progress the Jasper Recovery Coordination Centre has made in each area. We are working closely with all levels of government.
Work is being done in many areas at once. We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.
For reference:
- Temporary Accommodation – Until November 30
- Interim Housing – November 30 – Rebuild
Step 1: Assess Needs
Status: 90% complete
Our first step is to find out Jasper's housing needs. We have done this through the housing application. The information you provided has allowed us to better understand the quantity and type of housing required.
If you have not filled out the application, please do so by Friday, September 13.
Step 2: Accommodate Essential Workers
Status: 85% complete
Through the housing application, we have identified essential workers.
'Essential workers' are those who provide critical services that keep the community running, such as public safety (e.g., 911 operators, firefighters, paramedics, bylaw officers, RCMP), healthcare (e.g., nurses, doctors, mental health professionals), education (e.g., teachers, daycare staff), government services, and utilities (e.g., water, wastewater, electricity, and natural gas).
95% of those workers are now housed – either by finding their own housing or by accessing the temporary accommodation we have set up.
The Government of Alberta has agreed to fund temporary accommodation (until November 30) for essential workers through the Disaster Recovery Program (DRP), with a requirement of a 10% municipal contribution.
When we talk about the word essential, we are talking about the work, not the people. Everyone is important to our community. From local youth and retired seniors to seasonal workers, renters, homeowners, business owners, service staff, and tourism operators— everyone in Jasper plays a key role in keeping our community strong. We continue to explore housing options for everyone.
Step 3: Assess Housing Options
Status: 75% complete
With the information we got from the housing applications, we have a clearer picture of the types of housing that could work for Jasper. We are assessing ways to increase housing supply in coordination with Parks Canada and the Government of Alberta. Some of the options under consideration include:
- Modular style work camp (e.g., trailers)
- Prefabricated houses
- Existing accommodation (e.g., hotel rooms, single bedrooms, private home accommodations)
- Regional accommodations in nearby areas (i.e., Hinton and Valemount)
Step 4: Identify Housing Sites
Status: 70% complete
We have identified multiple potential sites around Jasper that could be used to mobilize housing. These areas were determined based on:
- Size of the land
- Access to essential utilities (like water, electricity, and gas)
- How close they are to town
Before finalizing site(s), the areas require environmental impact assessments and other assessments to make sure they can handle essential utility services, especially in winter conditions.
We have an Expression of Interest (EOI) open for the provision of pre-fabricated housing and/or workforce accommodations in these locations. Vendors can find more information on Alberta Purchasing Connection. Locations of housing sites can be found here.
Step 5: Analyze Cost
Status: 30% complete
The final step is to calculate the cost of housing options. We are using the data from residents and the work we have done so far to create a report we will submit to the provincial and federal governments. The analysis assumes that people living in interim housing (November 30 – rebuild) will pay rent at market rates.