Should Vancouver cover utilities costs for social housing?
Posted April 26, 2012 6:42 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – One Vancouver city councillor says people living in the affordable housing portion of Olympic Village could end up on the street if they don’t get some help with their utility bills.
Adriane Carr will ask council to pick up the tab at next week’s council meeting.
“I’m bringing a motion to council to follow through on Vancouver’s commitment that we do supply social housing at the Olympic Village and that that social housing ensures people do not have to spend more than 30 per cent of their income on both rent and utilities,” Carr says. “That’s not the case right now in terms of billing and we need to correct that because we’ve made a commitment to make sure that we do have social housing there.”
Carr says 126 units are dedicated to people with “deep core needs” for affordable housing and the average family living in one of those units is paying about $90 a month in utilities.
Pam Burge is a tenant and says she got a bill last year that was shocking.
“Our basic electricity, heat and hot water for a one bedroom apartment cost $125, which is unheard of in a one bedroom apartment,” Burge complains. “This in a building which is touted as being the most energy efficient building in Canada?”
Burge says she was told her bill would be next to nothing when she moved in.
“We, the tenants here, have been villainized,” Burge insists. “They call us at city hall a small group of ‘disgruntled tenants.’ Well, that’s exactly what we are!”
Carr will make her pitch to council at Tuesday’s meeting.
