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Newfoundland Town Tackles Affordable Housing Crisis to Retain Residents
31 Jul
Summary
- Fishing town of New-Wes-Valley sees population growth, not decline
- Housing prices have skyrocketed, pricing out seniors and young families
- Town plans to build 17-unit affordable housing complex on oceanfront land
In July 2025, the rural Newfoundland town of New-Wes-Valley is grappling with a surprising challenge: a growing population. Unlike many other communities in the region that have been steadily emptying out since the 1990s, New-Wes-Valley is now attracting new residents, many of whom are returning home after working elsewhere.
This influx of newcomers has driven up housing prices and property taxes, making it difficult for locals, especially seniors on fixed incomes, to afford a place to live. Homes that once sold for $30,000 a decade ago now fetch over $100,000, pricing out many long-time residents.
To address this affordable housing crisis, the town has taken action. They have purchased oceanfront land and commissioned a Danish architecture firm to design a 17-unit affordable housing complex. The municipality is now ready to publish a request for proposals from interested developers, determined to provide housing options that will allow both newcomers and longtime residents to call New-Wes-Valley home.
Mayor Mike Tiller is hopeful that this new affordable housing development will help the town maintain its population above 2,000, preventing further declines. "We want to keep our seniors here," he says. "We also want to attract newcomers to the area."
