Rent Supplement Programs (April 14)
Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A constituent on AISH brings home $1,188 and spends over 60 per cent of it on rent.
She applied for a rent subsidy but was turned away because she was, quote, low priority. To the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs: how is it that this woman is low priority for this government?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Denis: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m not aware of the specific situation, but I will have my department follow up with this particular member with a response in a timely fashion.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Pastoor: Thank you, and I will share that information, although I’m sure she doesn’t stand alone.
Given that over 10,000 people are on a wait-list for rent support, which means that they spend more than 50 per cent of their income on rent, how can the minister defend the huge cuts made to rent supplements over the past two years when rents are always increasing?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Denis: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This member is actually not correct that rents are always increasing. They have increased over the past couple of years, but we’ve actually seen a decline to the rents this year. That’s why we have budgeted somewhat less, about $13 million for rent supplements, than we have. This member should also know that we are actually helping 80,000 people every month with their rent, and every month 800 new people were able to transition into this system.
Ms Pastoor: Well, 80,000 plus 10,000: that’s 90,000 out there that need it.
Given that keeping people in their homes costs less than having that person become homeless, why is the minister unwilling to properly fund rent supplements, a move that saves taxpayers money in the long run?
Mr. Denis: Mr. Speaker, I again would challenge that member’s last comment. In fact, we do properly fund these items. We fund to the extent that we actually help three times the amount of people that we did only three years ago.
But I would like to welcome this member. I guess she’s my new critic.
Thank you.
Alberta Hansard, April 14, 2010