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Action Needed to Keep Lid on Sky-High Rents |
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Renters Listening Report makes 13 recommendations for government action June 18, 2007
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Edmonton City Councillor Michael Phair and the Edmonton Social Planning
Council today released a report on two renter listening forums held at
the Stanley Milner Library on May 23 and 24. The report summarizes the
stories and ideas of those attending the forum and makes thirteen
recommendations for government action based on the input received.
Over two hundred Edmontonians attended the two evening forums. They
were invited to tell their stories to a listening panel made up of
Susan Morrissey, Executive Director of the Edmonton Social Planning
Council, Don Mayne of the Alberta Quality of Life Commission, and City
Councillors Michael Phair and Dave Thiele.
“The renters who responded to our invitation had genuine concerns about
their ability to continue putting a roof over their heads,” said Susan
Morrissey, whose organization co-sponsored the forums along with
Councillor Michael Phair.
“The stories of hardship we heard were truly heart rending but also
inspiring,” said Councillor Michael Phair. “We heard not only people’s
stories but also their ideas of what can be done to fix what can only
be called a rental housing crisis.”
“Restricting rent increases to once a year, without limiting the amount
of the increase, is partly to blame for the massive rent hikes many
tenants told us they are facing,” Morrissey pointed out.
“We heard story after story from tenants facing rent increases of
hundreds of dollars per month while little or nothing is being done to
improve their properties,” noted Councillor Phair. “That’s why we are
urging the provincial government to reconsider its decision to reject
the Affordable Housing Task Force recommendation to introduce a
two-year rent stability guideline.”
Other recommendations being forwarded to government include: attaching
rent subsidies to the individuals or families needing them, providing
tenants with a right of first refusal when units are converted to
condos, and helping cover down payments so that home ownership becomes
more affordable for those with modest incomes.
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Sunday, 05 February 2012 
