It has the feel of a war bond drive from the 鈥�40s, and in many ways the latest initiative from the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Organization (SCREDO) is a direct appeal to Sunshine Coast patriotism.
SCREDO, through This is the Coast, is encouraging people to become landlords and create a 鈥淰ictory Suite鈥� to help with the region鈥檚 long-term rental shortage.
This is the Coast was set up originally to attract new families and young professionals to the Coast聽 (see Coast Reporter March 4, 2016), but SCREDO program manager Chris Hergesheimer said the bigger issue now is finding the people who want to move here a home.
鈥淭he reality is, I think, young people already want to come here. We don鈥檛 need to do a lot of work in terms of pulling them in and trying to sell the Coast,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey want to be here. They need a place to live.鈥澛�
Another part of the equation, according to Hergesheimer, is growing businesses that need workers but can鈥檛 get them, or can鈥檛 keep them, because of a shortage of rental housing.
SCREDO is using a mix of motivation and education to encourage people to become landlords to fill that gap.
鈥淵ou can increase the value of your house, you can add some revenue to your monthly income stream,鈥� Hegesheimer said. 鈥淏ut, I think at the end of the day this campaign is really about the pride, saying I鈥檓 a Sunshine Coast resident and I believe I can do something to fight this worker shortage, I believe I can do something to help provide housing.鈥�
A new section on the website will link people to all the information they need to help create suites that meet building codes and local bylaws as well as advice on being a landlord for people who鈥檝e never rented out a home before.
Hergesheimer said SCREDO is also hoping to create the same kind of social media buzz that the original This is the Coast campaign had by encouraging people to share their stories using the hashtag #VictorySuites.
鈥淲e鈥檇 love to hear from people,鈥� Hergesheimer said. 鈥淧eople who鈥檝e had good experiences being a landlord or tenants who鈥檝e built these long-term relationships with landlords and that鈥檚 really enabled them to find their place in the community on the Sunshine Coast.鈥�
Many people on the Sunshine Coast with a secondary suite or extra space have been choosing to offer short-term rentals, including Airbnb. Hergesheimer said the Victory Suites initiative, and SCREDO as a whole, aren鈥檛 trying to get those people to change direction.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not directly speaking in contrast to Airbnb or other short-term rentals. I think that鈥檚 a separate issue that SCREDO isn鈥檛 taking a position on at this time,鈥� he said.
