NDP asks about province's plans to sell off low-income housing
[ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon ... -1.4116713 ]
Opposition wants to know how many units being sold
CBC News Posted: May 16, 2017 5:00 AM CT Last Updated: May 16, 2017 5:00 AM CT
Saskatchewan's Opposition wants to know if the government is looking to sell off low-income housing units to help balance its books.
The government owns about 18,000 units through the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation.
According to officials, it has been government policy to sell units which have been vacant for at least six months and are deemed to no longer be needed.
NDP urges caution
But Saskatchewan NDP MLA Ryan Meili says the government should be cautious before selling too many units.
At the legislature on Monday, Meili said it could be difficult to get back any housing that is sold, adding that markets and public needs change.
"We might have a period of vacancy right now, that doesn't necessarily mean that will persist," said Meili.
"And it also takes away the flexibility of doing anything more interesting with housing, like housing first projects."
'Chronic vacancies' in some areas, says minister
The government said 600 units have been sold since 2003, adding that housing that is no longer needed is sold at fair market value.
Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said there were "chronic vacancies" in some rural Saskatchewan communities with less than 300 people.
"Those are some that we will look at selling, if we can sell them at all," said Beaudry-Mellor.
"But we would certainly like, if they are going to be chronically vacant as they continue to be, we'd like to get rid of those for sure."
Some units could be repurposed
She added that the government was also considering repurposing some of its units.
The province has also been approached by municipalities that want to expand the criteria attached to the housing so it can be opened up for professionals such as nurses or teachers, said Beaudry-Mellor.
She said she did not have a number for how many of the 18,000 units the government might want to sell.
"We're looking at the whole portfolio and seeing if there's potential there to right-size, repurpose, refocus," said Beaudry-Mellor.
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Low-income housing units in Saskatchewan could be for sale
[ http://globalnews.ca/news/3456881/low-i ... -for-sale/ ]
By Jules Knox Reporter/Anchor Global News May 16, 2017
There could be “for sale” signs outside some low-income housing units soon. The government is considering selling some of its stock.
“We’re looking at the whole portfolio and seeing if there’s potential to right size, repurpose, refocus on certain types of people that we’re looking at,” Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said.
The units are managed by Saskatchewan Housing, a Crown Corporation. The opposition called the possible plan another fire sale.
“Whether it’s selling off Crown land, selling off Crown corporations…it’s the Sask Party’s solution to everything. Now we hear that they’re looking to sell a $100 million worth of assets from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation,” housing critic Ryan Meili said during question period on Monday.
Beaudry-Mellor said everything is under review, and no decisions have been made.
Many units were purchased when vacancy rates in Regina and Saskatoon were low, but that’s since changed, she said.
The ministry is making units that have been vacant for more than six months a top priority.
“If we have chronic vacancies in our communities under 300 people, you know that’s an expense for government that we don’t necessarily need,” she said.
Beaudry-Mellor said the ministry is looking at repurposing units as potential receiving spaces for kids in need. She added some communities with housing shortages had expressed interest in housing nurses or teachers in the units.
“All those things are in the mix right now,” she said.
Anti-poverty advocate Peter Gilmer wants to see more social housing, not less. He called the possible sell-off a short-term solution.
“Any cut to any social housing unit right now is a bad idea because it is so essential for so many low income individuals and families,” he said.
“Any properties that that are sold off are not likely to get bought back, and we really need all those properties,” he said, adding that vacancy rates are often cyclical.
“It wasn’t that long ago that we had a vacancy rate in Regina that was less than one half of one per cent or about 90 vacant units for the entire city.”
The government said surplus units are sold at fair value.
More than 600 units have been sold since 2003.