Close X
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
ADVT 
National

Housing Affordability In Calgary An Issue For Refugees Arriving In City: Naheed Nenshi

The Canadian Press, 02 Dec, 2015 11:59 AM
    Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi says there are more than enough rental spaces for Syrian refugees arriving in the city, but help from the private sector is needed to make sure those units are affordable.
     
    Nenshi says there is already a long wait list in Calgary for social housing, so the 1,300 expected refugees will need other options until they get their feet under them.
     
    He says there's a vacancy rate of about five per cent — or 2,500 units — in a city that has been hit hard economically by the downturn in crude prices.
     
    But he says rents are still too high for many refugees — at least until they can line up good jobs and get their English skills up to speed.
     
    Two Calgary real estate firms — Mainstreet Equity and Boardwalk REIT — are chipping in.
     
    Mainstreet CEO Bob Dhillon said his firm is setting aside a minimum of 200 apartments for refugees, either free for the first 90 days or at a discount for a year, while Boardwalk's David McIlveen says his company is setting aside 350 units at a $150-a-month discount.
     
    "These two gentlemen and their companies are what you might call Canadians with thick wallets and big hearts," Immigration, Citizenship and Refugees Minister John McCallum told reporters after discussing Canada's refugee response with Calgary stakeholders.
     
    "I'm hoping they are the tip of the iceberg and their example will induce others to come forward with similar contributions so that we can welcome refugees, not just with a smile, but with a roof over their heads and all of the other things that they need to begin their lives in Canada."
     
    Nenshi said he recently met a refugee family of four who found a house to rent for $1,100 a month. While that's not bad by Calgary standards, it's not tenable when the family's monthly income is currently $1,500.
     
    "The guy's a mechanical engineer, so he's going to be fine once they get their English-language skills in place," said Nenshi.
     
    "So we cannot afford to have people lose their opportunity to be great Canadians over a few hundred dollars a month. We can't lose the game at the end over a few inches."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    James Forcillo's Partner Says She Believed Dead Teen Was 'Going To Get Himself Shot'

    James Forcillo's Partner Says She Believed Dead Teen Was 'Going To Get Himself Shot'
    Const. Iris Fleckheisen is testifying today at Const. James Forcillo's trial and recalling the night he shot down a knife-toting Sammy Yatim on a streetcar in July 2013.

    James Forcillo's Partner Says She Believed Dead Teen Was 'Going To Get Himself Shot'

    Dennis Oland Chokes Back Tears As He Tells Court He Misses His Father

    Dennis Oland Chokes Back Tears As He Tells Court He Misses His Father
    Oland told the jury in New Brunswick's Court of Queen's Bench that he and his father had an "old school" relationship.

    Dennis Oland Chokes Back Tears As He Tells Court He Misses His Father

    Auditor General Finds Delays, Up To A Year, For Home-Care Assessments In Ontario

    Auditor General Finds Delays, Up To A Year, For Home-Care Assessments In Ontario
    TORONTO — Many elderly and disabled Ontarians are not getting much-needed home-care services on time, with some waiting more than a year just for assessments, the government watchdog says.

    Auditor General Finds Delays, Up To A Year, For Home-Care Assessments In Ontario

    Jeff Tedford Resigns As B.C. Lions Coach, Wally Buono To Serve As GM And Coach Next Season

    Jeff Tedford Resigns As B.C. Lions Coach, Wally Buono To Serve As GM And Coach Next Season
    VANCOUVER — B.C. Lions general manager Wally Buono will return to the sidelines next season.

    Jeff Tedford Resigns As B.C. Lions Coach, Wally Buono To Serve As GM And Coach Next Season

    Horrific Details Of Two Winnipeg Sex Attacks Emerge With Guilty Plea

    Horrific Details Of Two Winnipeg Sex Attacks Emerge With Guilty Plea
    WINNIPEG — She started the night eating dinner with her family before going out to celebrate the completion of her midterms with friends.

    Horrific Details Of Two Winnipeg Sex Attacks Emerge With Guilty Plea

    Feds Reject Air Canada's Request To See Security Threat Assessments

    The air carrier has expressed concern to the federal government about accommodating sky marshals on its flights, often at significant cost.

    Feds Reject Air Canada's Request To See Security Threat Assessments