Posted by Sudbury Northern Life Reporter Bill Bradley
Social housing in Greater Sudbury needs a boost from today's federal budget because the situation for many families is dire, said Ward 11 Coun. Janet Gasparini, executive director of the Social Housing Planning Council of Sudbury.
"City council needs an action plan on this issue because of the alternative level of care crisis (ALC), the increase in seniors population, and support required for the disabled and low income renters. Thousands need housing," said Gasparini.
Shelly Upton, city housing program registry co-ordinator, said there was bad news and good news about the waiting list for non-profit, co-op and Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation (GSHC) social housing units.
"The bad news is that there are 2,154 on the list awaiting housing. That is a progressive, but not dramatic increase from past years. The good news is that the supply coming available tends to match the demand, which is for one and two bedroom units," said Upton.
Wait times for a three bedroom unit can be up to 42 weeks, for a one bedroom unit, up to 83 weeks. That is the average over the past three to four years, she said. However, there are categories where there is a case of domestic abuse and violence or where there is an urgent need, that can preempt those already on the list.
Gasparini said social housing is allocated to the city on a per capita basis.
"Recently we did get $6 million as our share from senior levels of government. We were able to add 90 units at two housing co-ops in the Flour Mill and in Capreol, but had some difficulty getting more private developers interested," said Gasparini.
She did note that there is such a lack of affordable housing in the city that it is causing competition for the few units available.
Northern Life has learned that market renters in city social housing units are being forced to relocate because their incomes are too high.
Gasparini said there is a long waiting list for affordable housing units.
"Market renters in Sudbury social housing projects are given up to a year to relocate. The units are for those who have very low incomes. But I agree there are not a lot of places for them to go. That is why we need more affordable housing in the city," said Gasparini.
The Options For Homes program, Gasparini mentioned, is geared to those who are working but whose incomes are enough to pay a mortgage if given assistance to qualify. But the first units will not be available until late 2009.
Recently, Amanda Kay, a tenant from a New Sudbury social housing project, said she is being forced to move out because she had become a market renter.
That is the policy of the province, said Coun. Claude Berthiaume, who sits on the city's social housing board.
"The province has got stricter with the criteria for who should be in social housing projects," said Berthiaume.
Upton indicated that a major factor in housing availability is turnover. If units are not vacated, then there are fewer units available to those on the waiting list.
"In 2008, 507 households were housed, down from 624 in 2007 in those units managed by the city."
Robert Sutherland, manager of the GSHC, would not comment on the specific case of Amanda Kay. He did say the number of market renters in his units is growing.
"Out of 1,848 units 10 per cent are market renters, double from the year before," said Sutherland.
He referred to a Jan. 14 release from Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation, which stated "pressure is mounting from various jurisdictions to house the more needy applicants (including abused and homeless individuals/families) from the rent geared to income list in place of retaining the market rent households who are more financially capable of finding lodging in the private sector."
Help may be on the way for desperate renters, however.
With the economic down turn, private sector builders may be more willing to construct social housing, said Paul Corsi, president of the Sudbury and District Home Builders Association.
"We were always interested in building social housing. We did participate in a number of round table discussions, but the timing seems to be right at this point," he said.
Corsi would not comment further until he saw the actual details contained in the budget documents.
"We get a very thick package, two inches thick, of budget documents. I have to go through them with a fine tooth comb to see what there is in it for us," he said.
