April 24, 2008

By Angela Brunschot

The Edmonton Social Planning Council has launched a survey of city renters in an effort to find out whether or not the Edmonton market has loosened up in the past couple months.

The survey is a follow-up to last year’s public forums on the rental market, where more than 200 Edmonton renters talked frankly (and in some cases emotionally) about their struggle to find decent, affordable accommodation in the city. 

Since the summer, high rents have fallen out of media headlines. In December, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported that rental vacancies had increased 0.3 per cent, fueling talk that the rental market was opening up again.

The ESPC wants to find out if those vacancies are reaching a range of income levels, and is seeking suggestions on how to address the affordable housing shortage.

The survey launched on April 17, and already ESPC has received 240 surveys. 

“That’s a lot of voices backing up requests for action from government,” says ESPC spokesperson Anette Kinley. “It’s not just us saying, ‘Renters need this.’ It’s actual renters speaking.”

Results will be presented to the municipal and provincial governments in June.

To fill out the survey, go to www.edmontonsocialplanning.ca.

Link to original See Magazine article