Decent wage but no place to live

[noob(but not really)]

Homelessness an issue in municipal election today in Calgary

Oct 15, 2007 04:30 AM

Petti Fong
Western Canada Bureau


Calgary–The irony of what he does for a living is not lost on Steve Leadbeter as he waits in line for a spot to sleep inside the homeless shelter.

"I'm a roofer," he says, looking up into the starless sky from the alleyway outside the Mustard Seed Street Ministry in downtown Calgary. "I'm up on roofs every day so other people can sleep inside."

Leadbeter, 34, came to Calgary in 2003, pushing his way eastward from B.C. down Highway 1 past hordes of others like him seeking work and high wages. He got both. Now earning $18 an hour at his full-time job, Leadbeter is financially in better shape than ever. Except for one basic thing he lacks.

"I have enough for food, for clothing and yeah, I piss away some of it, so the only missing part is a place to live," he says, wearing a warm fleece, his sunglasses perched on top of his snowboarder wool hat. "I just can't find enough to put away the two months' rent and damage deposit I need to get a place."

In 2003, Leadbeter rented a two-bedroom apartment for $500, but as Calgary's economy heated up, so did rent prices. He retreated when his rent hit $900 last year and now he can't find anything less than $1,100.

Homelessness and affordable housing have emerged as one of the major issues of the Calgary municipal election today.

Wayne Stewart, president of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, says he went door-to-door last week with local candidates and the issue of homelessness was foremost on people's agenda. Calgary is losing 1,000 rental units per year to condominium conversions.

"Our hope is the new council and even the incumbents hear the public's concern for those that don't have what most of us have," he says. "People who are earning $25 an hour are sleeping under trees."

At last official count in 2006, Calgary had about 3,600 homeless people and unofficial statistics show that number is even higher now. Toronto, he points out, has three times the population of Calgary and about 5,000 homeless.

The city that prides itself on being the economic driver of the country is dealing with what politicians and the business community optimistically refer to as the challenges of prosperity – too many people fighting for affordable housing with 186 new arrivals each day on average and only five leaving.

Most of the homeless earn $40,000 a year, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

"It breaks your heart to see this. They're paying taxes, they're good citizens," says Heather Douglas, president and CEO of the chamber.

Incumbent Mayor Dave Bronconnier, who all polls show will easily win another term today, has focused his campaign on improving roads and infrastructure. The city has helped create 800 affordable housing units in the past six years.

"It's a little known fact, the city is the largest landlord in Calgary with almost 8,000 units of affordable housing and it's still not enough," says Bronconnier.

His opponent, businessman Alnoor Kassam, says the city should approve more secondary suites – basement apartments in private homes – and if elected he would move immediately to legalize them.

The issue of affordable housing is at the root of other issues that have forced politicians and residents to acknowledge the challenges ahead, says Chima Nkemdirim, chair of the Better Calgary campaign.

"There's a lot of NIMBY-ism in Calgary, a lot of people are opposed to increasing density," he says. Voter turnout last election was 18 per cent, the lowest in western Canada.

"This is an important election because we've become a vibrant city, but the issue has become whether we are a sustainable city," he says.

[spongeg]

In 2003, Leadbeter rented a two-bedroom apartment for $500, but as Calgary's economy heated up, so did rent prices. He retreated when his rent hit $900 last year and now he can't find anything less than $1,100.

don't they have like rent control or something in Alberta? his rent went from $500 - $900 in 3 years?

in BC all a landlord can raise your rent a year is 4% as long as you are a tenant in the unit and its pretty hard to evict someone

[Xelebes]

There is no rent control in Alberta. Hence, a symptom. We've asked the provincial government to consider this (since only they can put this in place) but they have done nothing so far.

[WinnipegPatriot]

WTF...lest the economy collapses...the government better take action!

[ssiguy2]

Having to put up 2 months rent and a security deposit is ridiculous.
Half a months rent is standard in most places.

[doogerz]

I'm not sure if its only Alberta where people are considered "poor" if they make under $40,000. Given the rising cost of living across the country there is a reason why people from so-called "low-cost" locales such as Atlantic Canada are flocking to this province...because prices have went up there as well and their low-wage jobs could not sustain their quality of life.

[ssiguy2]

That is not the point. No one in Canada should be homeless and with Alberta's wealth there is no excuse for no gov't housing. Also by having no rent controls the province cannot offer rent subsidies to its most needy because the rent would go up as fast or faster than the subsidy itself.
Rents should be controlled with inflation and if people are getting evicted due to condo-conversition then the tenants should be compensated suchas 3-4 months rent.
The Alberta gov't keeps saying that rent controls stop the building of rental building but the reality is that there are almost no rentals being built and there are so many condo conversions that the vacany rate is so low that you have working people still living on the streets...........obscene.

[Xelebes]

There is some affordable housing - that is marked down and controlled by the municipal government - that is funded by the province. Obviously, this is not enough and is pretty much reserved for those who are on AISH incomes.

[mr.x]

Didn't you guys implode a hospital awhile ago? Classic move by Ralph.

[Xelebes]

In Calgary, yes.