Student housing in Fort Richmond an issue, Winnipeg councillors agree

Councillors on the city's property and planning committee agree with St. Norbert Coun. Janice Lukes: there are issues with student housing in the Fort Richmond area.

At a meeting on Friday, the committee accepted a report looking at best practices in other communities across North America.

CBC News has found one home on Thatcher Drive where the owner had built 15 bedrooms for international students.

• UManitoba students living in overcrowded family homes, area residents say

Lukes was urged to start a working group with residents and the University of Manitoba to look for solutions.

A University of Manitoba spokesperson admitted there is a shortage of on-campus housing.

John Danakas told CBC News the school is planning to add more spaces to the 1,500 already on campus, but couldn't say how many would be built or when.

He added the university is aware of concerns about off-campus student-housing and is working with Lukes on the problem.