Open house focuses on affordable housing

The plan to use motel buildings to help curb the housing crisis in Niagara Falls is moving closer.

The city has an information open house tonight to discuss using the rooms as affordable housing.

'Single room occupancy' would allow the owners to rent out rooms as homes - even though they provide only some of the necessities of daily living.

The average cost to rent a one bedroom apartment in Niagara is over $1,000.

Right now only one motel in Niagara Falls has the proper zoning that allows them to rent out the units as permanent homes.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. tonight at the Niagara Falls History Museum.