[Fwd: Military Barracks for Poor]
Graeme Bacque (gbacque@arcos.org)
Wed, 15 Apr 1998 11:41:29 -0400
> April 15, 1998
>
> ALDERMAN SAYS POOR UNWELCOME By VICKY MEGRATH
> Calgary Sun
> Military barracks at CFB Calgary will soon house some of
> Calgary's working poor, but one city alderman said she isn't so sure
> they're welcome.
> The city is set to announce a new deal with Canada Lands
> Company Ltd. to lease space on the former military base and
> convert it to temporary housing.
> The shelter will provide stopgap accommodations for people who
> have jobs but can't afford -- or can't find -- affordable housing.
> "This will give people some breathing space until they find
> affordable housing or save up enough for their own place," said
> Ald. Joanne Kerr.
> She said a person needs up to $2,000 to move into their own
> place for things like a damage deposit, first month's rent, utilities
> deposits and food.
> Mark McCullough, general manager of real estate for Canada
> Lands, said the city is looking at buildings around the parade square
> on the west side of Crowchild Tr.
> "We are in negotiations and hope to finalize an agreement in
> principle this week," he said. "We are filling an interim need so it
> will be a short-term lease with the city."
> Still, Kerr said Canada Lands has been less than willing to
> provide affordable or interim housing.
> "They offered us the oldest barracks with the highest operating
> costs," said Kerr. "By the time supervision costs were added, rents
> would have been $625 per month per room -- with shared
> bathrooms and no kitchen facilities.
> "I got their message loud and clear and it was: `We're not
> interested in having you here.'"
> The deal follows months of discussions between Canada Lands,
> Calhome Properties Ltd. (the city's housing agency), and city
> community and social development officials.
> Mayor Al Duerr said while interim and crisis housing is
> desperately needed, the first offer was unacceptable.
> Duerr knows demand for CFB sites is hot: "Unfortunately, we're
> here competing with other users that will potentially generate more
> money for CLC."
> Officials estimate almost half of the more than 800 homeless
> people in Calgary have fulltime jobs.
> Last month, the waiting list for subsidized housing at Calhome
> Properties had more than 1,100 names.
> Stuart Round of CLC said his company's mandate is "to optimize
> the value" of the area to the community.
> He argues existing base housing is affordable, noting well over
> 300 of the 500 available units are leased to short-term renters and
> newcomers to Calgary.
--
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Graeme Bacque
<http://web.arcos.org/gbacque>
(#2226799 on ICQ)
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