By Lisa Schick

Sask. gov’t ends Affordable Housing Rental Program

Jan 23, 2015 | 6:07 AM

It could be great or it could be terrible – that’s what a community group in Regina said about the changes to affordable housing programs the province announced on Thursday.

The government said it was ending the Affordable Housing Rental Program, and many of the people under that program will be moved into the Social Housing Rental Program.

“You just don’t know how it’ll play out until you kind of see some of the ramifications of it once the program’s actually in place,” said Tyler Gray, with Carmichael Outreach in Regina. 

Among the pros for the change, the government said it would simplify the process. Gray said that’s a good thing because dealing with the programs right now can be very complicated.

“Quite often you’re spending your time running around trying to figure out where you can get this funding, or where you can get that funding, and it becomes really complex to try and navigate those systems with landlords in the city.”

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Gray is also excited that under the Social Housing Program the concept of affordability will be fixed at 30 per cent of the tenant’s income, which is the standard set by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

“That has been something that has been far overdue in our province,” said Gray. 

According to Gray, the program could be good if it’s done right, but he is nervous that the group the program targets will be too narrow, like just the elderly, or just women and children fleeing bad situations. 

“There certainly is the potential for a program that takes all 2,700 units and puts them under one blanket to only serve one demographic in your population and to leave a whole bunch of others out in the cold.”

Ultimately Gray said they won’t know until the program gets going, but he wants the changes to help shift the conversation to a more holistic intervention; not separating the conversations of affordable housing and homelessness.

“I think we’re hopeful that this provides a change and provides more access, but it could go the other way and actually eliminate the access that we did have.”

The change will take place on March 1, 2015. Those who are eligible for the Social Housing Program will able to apply for it.

According to the provincial government about 1,300 of the 2,700 units will see their rents go down or stay the same. Another approximately 800 will see their rents go up by a little bit. And the approximately 600 people in the Affordable Housing Rental Program who can afford market rates can stay in their current homes, but their rents will rise over time, encouraging them to move out; the first rise of $100 will come into effect in Mar 2016.

“It is our intent to ensure that Saskatchewan people with the greatest housing need, such as persons with disabilities and families with low-incomes, have better access to safe, quality housing,” said Donna Harpauer, Social Services Minister and Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.

The NDP are critical of the changes, saying the province should be increasing affordable housing instead of eliminating programs.

In a news release Thursday, the NDP said the changes will leave thousands of people, who previously qualified for affordable housing, out in the cold.

“Basically, what the government is saying with this announcement is that if you’re low-income and struggling, tough luck. You’re on your own. You no longer have options through the government,” said David Forbes, NDP Social Services critic, in a news release.

“Social housing is important, as it serves the most vulnerable. But, there are a lot of families that are working, but struggling to make ends meet, and they need that affordable housing option.”

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