Latest news with #lowincomehousing
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alberta gov't fell short of its affordable housing goal last year: annual report
The provincial government completed fewer new or refurbished affordable housing units last year than the previous three years, according to figures in the Seniors, Community and Social Services Ministry's annual report. Provincial funding contributed to the creation of 388 new units in fiscal 2024, while another 410 households received rent supplements — payments that help people pay rent in market-housing units, the annual report says. But the combined number of 798 units and subsidies fell short of the ministry's target of 1,500 for the year, the report says "The provincial government has been failing at creating more affordable housing, particularly for low-income people," said Carolyn Whitzman, a senior housing researcher at the University of Toronto's School of Cities. Last year, the Alberta government created 641 affordable housing units — through new builds and refurbishments — and allocated 1,661 rent supplements. In the 2021 Stronger Foundations report, the province's 10-year strategy for affordable housing, the government set a goal to expand the capacity of its affordable housing system, so it could support 25,000 more households by 2032. That figure combines new builds, renovations to existing units and rent subsidies. During a media availability Friday, Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon told reporters that the provincial government is on track to reach its goal. He said providing rent supplements for existing market housing is part of the plan. "Rent supplement units are new units," Nixon said. "Taking a unit on, that would be in the open market, and creating a rent supplement for that unit creates an affordable unit that would not have been affordable before this." The annual report said an additional 1,626 units were under construction as of March 31. Nixon's press secretary, Amber Edgerton, said in a written statement that the figure in the annual report shows the projects completed within a fiscal year, and that most affordable housing projects are currently being built. "Construction of affordable housing doesn't happen in a fiscal year — these are long-term projects that will benefit Albertans for decades to come," she wrote. On Friday, Nixon and Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of emergency management and community resilience and MP for Edmonton Centre, announced that the federal and provincial governments will spend $203 million combined to build 2,300 affordable housing units across Alberta. The provincial government has spent $386 million through its Affordable Housing Partnership Program since 2022, and plans to spend another $655 million over the next three years. Provinces could do better Whitzman, the U of T researcher, sees problems with Alberta's use of subsidies to help make market housing more affordable. The payments, she said, don't always make up the difference between the rent charged for a unit and what a lower-income tenant can afford. Rent subsidies also keep tenants in the private market, which may not provide the same kind of rent stability as a unit in a community-housing or non-market unit., she said. Nixon rejects calls for Alberta to implement rent control while the province builds out its affordable housing supply. He argues rent caps provide a disincentive to developers who build new apartment and homes. Whitzman said that isn't the case in jurisdictions like Quebec, which has rent control. No provincial government is doing a great job building affordable housing, Whitzman said, but Alberta is failing on several fronts. She said Alberta has a growing rate of evictions, and that the government needs to improve benefits so people can afford to live. The Alberta government can also change the building code and provide guidance to municipalities on how they can change zoning bylaws to allow more apartment buildings, she said. Calgary, and particularly Edmonton, are doing well with zoning changes, but only because they did so on their own, Whitzman added. Opposition NDP housing critic Janis Irwin, the MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, said she isn't surprised the government fell short of its affordable-housing goals. Nixon often cites increases in market housing starts as proof Alberta is building more housing, which in turn will make more apartments available as tenants move into new homes. But Irwin argues the UCP government needs to spend more on new non-market housing, and reiterated a call to institute a rent cap. She said Nixon could spend more on new affordable housing builds, noting the government ended the 2024-25 year with a $8.2 billion surplus. "They could be using that money to invest in new affordable housing. They could be upgrading the affordable housing that we know is in disrepair," Irwin said. "We know that investments in housing will will pay dividends down the road. These should be viewed as investments and not expenses."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vero Beach Mobile Home park owner owes $250,000 in fines to city, but won't pay or comply
This story was updated to add new information. VERO BEACH — Surrounded by auto repair shops and used car dealers, Vero Beach Mobile Home Park is a tight collection of nearly 50 trailers for low-income housing. Three dirt paths traverse the park, and cats are almost as plentiful as residents. Many of the residents are on disability or Social Security. Owner James Schlitt has a problem, though. He owes the city $263,750 — fines of $50 per day from Jan. 1, 2011, to June 10, according to City Clerk Sherri Philo. But, Schlitt says it's in his best interest to let the fines pile up. "It's a numbers game at this point," explained Schlitt. "It's costing me less money to let the fines pile up than it would to fix the problems." The violations levied against Schlitt require him to remove 17 homes from the property, move existing trailers 20 feet apart and clear the right-of-way from obstructions. Schlitt estimates removing one trailer costs $15,000 — or $255,000 for 17. "That's 17 homes that won't be available to people that need them," he said. "The city does not have a lot of cheap housing available already. We can't reduce it." The trailers rent for an average of $450 per month, and since 2011, removing 17 of them would have cost Schlitt nearly $1.3 million in rent over the 14 years the fines have piled up. The city has taken steps to foreclose on the property, officials said. Rock and a hard place The trailer park was established in 1951, and has looked virtually the same since. Schlitt bought the property in 2001. The code enforcement violations stemmed from a former secretary of Schlitt's, who, he said, stole more than $60,000 and disappeared. He says she filed the complaints, and vacated her trailer on the property the next day. Schlitt declined to identify the former secretary. "If she had not done that, we might not be in this situation," Schlitt said. "But, what's done is done." Turner inherited the case when he took his position with the city in 2019. "This case predates my time here," Turner said. "But there is a lot to consider, especially the lives of the people who reside at the park." Turner says the most common way for property owners to resolve large liens is to sell the property and use the proceeds to pay the fines. Schlitt says he's not selling. The value of the park is $479,818, according to the county Property Appraiser's Office. "We don't want to be in this situation either," said City Attorney John Turner. "But everyone is held to the same standard." Schlitt's wife sends weekly emails to the code-enforcement office, asking for help and how to resolve the situation. Until one is found, Schlitt repairs what he can. He doesn't foresee a resolution in the near future. "I walk the park and do my best to keep it nice," says Schlitt. "But, I am one person, and the nature of low-income housing is it tends to have some shortfalls." Local news: The Source buys site of Vero Beach Ranch for Boys Long time coming: Three neglected roads in Gifford to be paved, made safer, after 20 years He also does not want to put his tenants out on the street. "If I sell, who is going to look out for my residents," Schlitt asked. "Many of them have nowhere else to go." For now, his plan is to keep the park open and roofs over the heads of his residents. "I am just going to keep on operating it as I have been," Schlitt says. "And will continue to do so until I can't anymore." Nick Slater is TCPalm's Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at and 224-830-2875. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Local trailer park owner owes city $250,000, but isn't planning to pay Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Vero Mobile Home Park staring down foreclosure; owner says he'll fight it
VERO BEACH — Andrea Adkins, 57, is scared she will be evicted from her home in Vero Mobile Home Park. She is a survivor of domestic violence, lives on $900 per month and has a service animal. Her landlord, Jimmy Schlitt, owes the city $263,750 in code-violation fines — which has accumulated at $50 per day from Jan. 1, 2011, to June 10, according to City Clerk Sherri Philo. The city is looking to foreclose on the property, 1228 24th St., to correct the violations and collect the fines. "It's really scary. I don't know where I will go if I get kicked out," Adkins said. "I've looked everywhere, even in other states, for housing I can afford. There is basically nothing." Code violations Adkins pays $450 per month, and Schlitt has completed every repair she's needed on her trailer. But, according to the city, Schlitt must remove 17 of the 47 trailers on the property, move remaining trailers 20 feet apart and clear the right-of-way of obstructions. Schlitt estimates removing one trailer costs $15,000 — or $255,000 for 17. The value of the park is $479,818, according to the county Property Appraiser's Office. Many of the trailers are just feet apart. "The park could pose a safety concern," said City Councilmember Aaron Vos. "We have codes in place for the safety of the residents, and it's imperative they are followed." Schlitt said he bought the property in 2001 in its current condition. "That's the nature of low-income housing," explained Schlitt. "But there is no place locally that people can have a roof over their head for that price." Foreclosure process The City Council unanimously voted June 10 to start the foreclosure process. City Attorney John Turner said he anticipates going to court in August, and will ask that the city's liens take priority. A trial could last around 16 months, and if the city prevails, the park will go up for auction. Proceeds would go first towards paying the liens. If there's money left, it would go to Schlitt, according to Turner. The city would not take ownership at any point, he said. Mobile home park background: Vero Beach Mobile Home park owner owes $250,000 in fines to city, but won't pay or comply Golf cart dangers: Florida leads US in golf cart deaths, and kids under 18 are twice as likely to get hurt "We have a responsibility to our taxpayers to collect code-enforcement fines," said Turner. "Property owners have the responsibility to pay those fines and correct violations. All city residents are held to the same standard." Schlitt — who said he learned of the City Council action from a reporter — said he's ready to fight the city. "This is going to be a circus in court," Schlitt predicted. "I have evidence to back up why I should keep it, and it's in the best interest of my residents that I do." A new owner would be required to correct the violations, but it's unknown what would happen to the tenants during the foreclosure process. State law protects mobile home residents, including limiting evictions until a resident can find similar housing situations, according to Turner. That gives Adkins little comfort. "We still don't know what a new owner will do," said Adkins. "I don't want to be homeless. I got so lucky when I found this place." Nick Slater is TCPalm's Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at and 224-830-2875. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach trailer park foreclosure battle pits landlord versus city Solve the daily Crossword
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Quebec to allow roommates in low-income housing
Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau at a press conference in Quebec City on 22 May 2024.(Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) The Quebec government has tabled a draft regulation to allow roommate situations in subsidized low-income housing (HLM). Housing Minister France-Élaine Duranceau made the announcement on Wednesday morning, explaining that the government wants 'more people to have access to low-income housing while ensuring that there are as few under-occupied units as possible.' The draft regulation, published in the Gazette officielle du Québec, would amend the low-rent housing regulation to allow roommate situations. Many have been pushing the government to change its rules on sharing HLMs. Currently, it is only permitted when a household includes a caregiver in housing intended for people aged 65 and over, and in housing intended for people with disabilities or needs that require special facilities. In a news release, the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ) said permitting shared accommodation in social housing 'will allow for a better match between the composition of households and the types of housing available, while contributing to more efficient management of the housing stock.' According to the SHQ, subsidized programs currently support more than 114,320 low-income households, with rent fixed at 25 per cent of their income. Québec Solidaire co-spokesperson Guillaume Cliche-Rivard has been pressing François Legault's Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government on this issue since May. In a press release, he welcomed Duranceau's announcement, noting that 'this change will make several hundred places available in social housing.' 'This is not going to solve the housing crisis, but I am glad that the CAQ has finally agreed to adopt this measure, which is cost-neutral,' he added. He said he hopes the administration will be willing to study and implement other measures to alleviate the affordability crisis, like capping rent increases and ending blind bidding wars. Now that the draft regulation has been pre-published in the Gazette officielle du Québec, it is subject to a 45-day public consultation period before adoption. Provisions for domestic violence, disaster victims The draft also suggests amendments for victims of conjugal violence, like replacing the notion of 'victim of domestic violence' with 'victim of family violence, including domestic violence.' It will allow applicants for low-income housing to use a certificate issued by a centre for victims of crime to find a home. Additionally, the government said it will extend the deadline for priority applications to low-income housing to 30 days following a disaster or having a dwelling declared unfit for habitation. With files from The Canadian Press.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Chino neighbors oppose proposal that would turn a longtime strawberry field into a mixed-use development
A sprawling field of what once housed rows and rows of strawberries could soon be slated for a new mixed-use development in Chino, drawing some vocal opposition from residents. "It's not a development that belongs in Chino, not even resembles Chino," said Dave Gillespie. He's one of many upset about the new development that could spring up behind their homes should the proposal get approved. The development would include dozens of units of low-income housing. "I know that you have to build x-amount of homes within the city every year to meet standards, but I think this is absolutely ridiculous," he said. "It's hideous, it doesn't belong here." The nearly 10-acre plot of land sitting at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Schaefer Avenue would hold more than 250 homes, some in four-story buildings, a storage facility and retail space, according to city documents. Gillespie said that the height of the buildings, and the large amount, is where their main concern lies. "If it was a single-family home, two-stories, no one would have an issue. No issue at all," he said. They say that the larger buildings would remove all privacy from their own two-story homes on Joy Road. On top of that, so many new tenants and cars would impact what is already a clogged Euclid Avenue. "Traffic going down Euclid right now, all the big rigs and diesels and stuff like that, it's too much already," said one neighbor. "It's gonna get crazy, it's gonna get really bad." The project was already approved by the city's planning commission, but with neighbors banding together to appeal, the decision will now lie with Chino City Council. City leaders are unsure if much more can be done. "Cities don't have as much local control over these housing projects as they once used to," said Matthew Bramlett, a spokesperson for Chino. In April, Chino Mayor Eunice M. Ulloa wrote a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, expressing concerns over state laws that mandate approving housing projects. Even so, Bramlett says the project will likely be approved. "The Housing Accountability Act states that if there's two-thirds of housing on mixed-use development, it has to go through," Bramlett said. "We're legally prohibited to deny this project as it stands right now."
