Close X
Friday, November 8, 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

    Remote B.C. Community Frets Over Cut Lifeline As Plug Pulled On Internet

    Remote B.C. Community Frets Over Cut Lifeline As Plug Pulled On Internet
    District of Stewart, the non-profit provider pulled the plug on the Internet on Monday, and it could be weeks before the community gets back online

    Remote B.C. Community Frets Over Cut Lifeline As Plug Pulled On Internet

    Richmond Predator Martin Tremblay Declared Dangerous Offender, Given Indeterminate Prison Sentence

    Richmond Predator Martin Tremblay Declared Dangerous Offender, Given Indeterminate Prison Sentence
    Friends and family of 17-year-old Martha Jackson and 16-year-old Kayla Lalonde cried and cheered as a B.C. Supreme Court judge handed down his decision

    Richmond Predator Martin Tremblay Declared Dangerous Offender, Given Indeterminate Prison Sentence

    Ontario University Hockey Team Changes It's Offensive Name, Destroys Jerseys After Complaint

    Ontario University Hockey Team Changes It's Offensive Name, Destroys Jerseys After Complaint
    The co-ed team of law students at Western University was called Dixon Cider — a name that the dean of the university's faculty of law says isn't immediately clear that it's offensive until it is spoken aloud

    Ontario University Hockey Team Changes It's Offensive Name, Destroys Jerseys After Complaint

    Suspect In Alberta Triple Homicide Shot By RCMP, No One Else Hurt

    Suspect In Alberta Triple Homicide Shot By RCMP, No One Else Hurt
    RCMP say that earlier today they went with a warrant to arrest Mickell Bailey in the deaths of Roxanne Berube, another female and Daniel Miller.

    Suspect In Alberta Triple Homicide Shot By RCMP, No One Else Hurt

    Rape Group Won't Be Heard At Ivan Henry's Compensation Hearing

    A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has rejected an attempt by Vancouver Rape Relief to argue that a man acquitted of sexual assault after nearly three decades behind bars is actually guilty.

    Rape Group Won't Be Heard At Ivan Henry's Compensation Hearing

    2-Year-Old Girl Found Safe After Missing For Hours Near Powell River, B.C.

    2-Year-Old Girl Found Safe After Missing For Hours Near Powell River, B.C.
    Const. Tim Kenning with the Powell River RCMP says police believed the little girl walked away from her home.

    2-Year-Old Girl Found Safe After Missing For Hours Near Powell River, B.C.