SARANAC LAKE — The village is looking for applicants to serve on a new nine-member Housing Task Force, which will provide input on how the village can best improve and increase its housing stock.

Applications to sit on this task force are due by Sunday.

This committee will continue the work set up by the village’s housing work group, which has met for the past few years to discuss the worsening affordable housing shortage in the area.

Saranac Lake Community Development Director Jamie Konkoski said when the board adopted the work group’s housing plan in January, one of the “high priority” recommendations was to establish a task force to “track progress, assist with completion of action items, and study best practices and successful strategies for housing development.”

The village is looking for people representing housing organizations, finance, real estate, construction or major employers, but Konkoski said anyone who’s interested can apply to join as long as they “have passion for addressing housing needs, express willingness to put forth the effort needed to make progress on complex issues or would contribute a unique skillset to the task force.”

Konkoski and two trustees will review letters of interest and recommend candidates to the full board. The appointments will require a majority vote of the village board to be approved.

Konkoski said she hasn’t received nine applications yet, so she’s hoping for more applications before the deadline.

“We’re looking to put together a group of people that have the knowledge and skills that can address a complex issue that’s really important for the village,” Konkoski said.

To apply to serve on the Housing Task Force, email a letter of interest by April 10 to Konkoski at comdev@saranaclakeny.gov.