Local organizations in the Drumheller Valley have collaborated to find a solution to a long-term issue – a severe seasonal housing shortage.
Area residents expressed enthusiasm for the idea of introducing a home share platform to the region. Support for the project has resulted in a commitment from the Prairies Rural Opportunities Fund (ROF 2.0) which will allow the home share concept to soon become reality.
The lack of short-term housing has been identified as a major roadblock to the growth of the region’s tourism businesses and attractions. The Drumheller Valley Housing Strategy and the Travel Drumheller Destination Development Plan identified “securing housing for seasonal employees”, as a very high priority. The Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) proposed a home sharing platform to help address labour shortages and housing constraints – major obstacles limiting the delivery of a world-class tourism experience.
Two Canadian companies, Happipad and Canada Home Share, recently announced a partnership that will introduce a home share platform to the region. Home sharing connects homeowners with an extra room in their home with seasonal employees looking for rental accommodation. The support that is now in place means funding will be available to the first fifty homeowners who sign onto the home share platform and are matched with renters. Grant funding will cover program fees for the first two years of the project (through to March 31, 2026). happipad.com/drumheller
The Happipad home sharing platform allows hosts to set their own terms, establish their own rules, and connect to renters who are looking to make a positive contribution to the community. The platform screens renters and hosts, conducts background checks, prepares rental contracts, and matches for compatibility. This thorough approach ensures that accommodations are safe, secure, and sustainable.
The home share program will benefit business and tourism operators as well as residents who are looking to supplement household income. The local economy will be strengthened as additional resources become available to support local businesses. The program will also create opportunities to build community, whether it means vulnerable residents requiring modest support are able to continue to live independently, or those seeking social connection are able to find it by opening their homes to those in need of accommodation.
