Matheson facing housing shortage: community needs developer to construct subdivision.

• Author: Cowan, Liz
• Position: TIMMINS

Like its neighbouring communities, Black River-Matheson is reaping the benefits, of a booming mining industry, but is feeling the pinch of a housing shortage.

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"There certainly is a need for more housing," said Mayor Mike Milinkovitch.

Two mining companies - St Andrew Gold-fields and Brigus Gold - are in production in the area and in the past three years, about 1,000 people have been hired between them.

"We have an increasing demand for housing and we do have an approved subdivision (in Matheson)," the mayor said. "A number of developers are interested but nothing specific has come about. We are anxious for something to happen here and we are looking at building 30 to 40 homes as quickly as possible."

Due to its small size and the fact Kirk-land Lake, Timmins and Cochrane are also facing demands for housing, it's been difficult to attract a developer. In addition to the community, the township also includes Holtyre, Ramore, Shillington and Val Gagne. Matheson, located about 70 kilome tres east of Timmins, has a population of 900 people.

"I was in a store recently and I was stopped by someone who said he had been looking for a house for months. He said he was bringing his family here, but he was living in a-room," Milinkovitch said. "I know there is no housing, but we can't do anything until a developer comes in."

In mid-June, only six homes were listed for sale on the MLS (multiple listing service) website of the Canadian Real Estate Association.

The community's housing shortage is not entirely due to the mines in the area. Milinkovitch said Matheson also attracts those in Timmins who find it easier to drive from the community to Kidd Mine and the former Kidd Creek metallurgical site (when it was operational).

"If they lived on the west-side of Timmins, it took them longer to drive through Timmins to get to the sites than it would from Matheson," the mayor...