This entire block of family units, owned by PA Housing, is empty while being repaired. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Housing

Numbers show 16 per cent vacancy in Prince Albert public housing

Sep 15, 2023 | 1:02 PM

Newly released numbers on the number of empty public housing units show Prince Albert has a 16 per cent vacancy rate.

Saskatchewan NDP Housing Critic Meara Conway said the vacancies have steadily increased over the last 10 years across the province and they are concentrated in larger centres.

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that over half a billion dollars’ worth of Saskatchewan housing units shouldn’t be sitting vacant, while record numbers of people across Saskatchewan sleep in back alleys and parks and tents,” she said in a news conference in Regina earlier this week.

After combing through years of Sask. Housing’s annual returns plus filing multiple freedom of information requests, Conway said the compiled data shows a large portion of empty units in Saskatchewan’s cities, such as Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.

“Over the last decade, the Sask. Party has quietly and dramatically cut support for Sask. Housing units,” she said.

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That has resulted in $590 million worth of housing units staying vacant even as rents start to soar, and Sask. Housing has lost more than $194 million in potential rental revenue and utility costs, according to the NDP.

It also means that students, seniors, and families are looking at a tighter rental market than there needs to be and paying higher rents as a result.

“This is an $80 million housing bungle. People keep saying, what’s happening in our communities? The deteriorating social and economic situation is visible. The steep rise in homelessness is chilling,” said Conway.

In 2011, the government was allocating 24 per cent of the budget to the Sask. Housing Corporation and as of last year, it was two per cent.

The province confirmed to paNOW that they have about 940 social housing units in Prince Albert that are managed by the Prince Albert Housing Society.

Of those, 420 units are for seniors while 520 are geared for families.

As of three months ago, four family units and eight senior units are rentable but empty.

Another 46 family units and 35 senior units are in the process of being prepared to be rentable, six family and 14 senior units are out of service because they need major repairs.

There are also 44 family units at Village Green Townhouse that are in the process of a “significant capital rejuvenation.”

“Housing needs are rapidly changing. To meet these changing needs, we are addressing barriers to social housing to make sure the right housing is available in the right place – and is available for people in the greatest housing need,” said the government in an emailed statement.

In response, the province said that it has invested almost $600 million through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to repair units. That includes $100 million last year and this year for repairs on social housing.

At the same time, age limits have been lowered and asset limits increased for seniors. Some eligibility limits for people with disabilities have been modified.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com