Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Auditor makes recommendations for BC Housing

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Mar, 2022 01:56 PM
  • Auditor makes recommendations for BC Housing

VICTORIA - B.C.'s auditor general says the provincial housing agency should ensure rooms it finds for women and children fleeing violence are held exclusively for their use.

In an audit of BC Housing's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, auditor general Michael Pickup says the Crown corporation did not have a process to ensure hotel and motel operators fulfilled their agreements for the space.

As a result, the audit found rooms leased by BC Housing at three hotels were rented out to others during the period that was assessed between April 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021.

The recommendation is one of four made by Pickup, whose audit found that BC Housing "effectively managed" its program to provide additional safe spaces for women and children, but with "some exceptions."

B.C. Housing accepted all four recommendations.

Pickup also says there are gaps in the agency's response to situations where women were turned away because of a lack of space and suggests better data collection to determine why this happens.

The auditor general also suggests BC Housing collect more information on the physical ability, mental wellness, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity of its clients to monitor whether the spaces are accessible to all women.

As well, it recommended that BC Housing work to better understand and address the staffing needs of housing providers after it found three of the 12 organizations it interviewed had staffing shortages during the pandemic.

MORE National ARTICLES

Future of work shows promise but also inequality

Future of work shows promise but also inequality
The BC Federation of Labour, which represents more than half a million workers in B.C., recommends governments ensure there are no barriers to unionization in the changing labour market.    

Future of work shows promise but also inequality

NATO should ready for battle: survey respondents

NATO should ready for battle: survey respondents
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has signalled its solidarity with Ukraine in the form of supplies, weapons and sanctions since the early days of Russia's latest incursion into its territory, but has not deployed troops for combat.

NATO should ready for battle: survey respondents

Vancouver must restore $5.7M to police budget

Vancouver must restore $5.7M to police budget
Vancouver police Chief Adam Palmer says a provincial report from the director of police services has ordered the city to restore $5.7 million to the department’s 2021 budget.

Vancouver must restore $5.7M to police budget

Transit Police investigate after bus operator bear sprayed in Vancouver

Transit Police investigate after bus operator bear sprayed in Vancouver
The driver was immediately overcome by the effects of the spray as his ability to breathe became impaired. He was treated on scene by the Vancouver Fire Department and while he did not suffer any serious physical injuries, the incident continues to have an impact on his mental well being.    

Transit Police investigate after bus operator bear sprayed in Vancouver

Courts will have to consider COVID delays: experts

Courts will have to consider COVID delays: experts
The pandemic halted in-person court proceedings for months in many provinces over the last two years and put jury trials on hold for long periods of time, exacerbating existing backlogs. Measures such as virtual hearings were implemented to minimize the impact of the pandemic, though not all cases could proceed remotely.    

Courts will have to consider COVID delays: experts

689 COVID19 cases over 3 days

689 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are 359 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 51 are in intensive care. In the past 72 hours, 14 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,946.

689 COVID19 cases over 3 days

PrevNext