Challenge to get an affordable housing plan

Belleville councillors face the challenge Tuesday of coming up with a “long term vision” to solve the rental housing problem in the city.

That challenge was issued by Mayor Mitch Panciuk as the first day of the Housing Summit wrapped up at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre on Monday.

During the afternoon session, council heard from the Quinte Landlords Association on issues faced by landlords both from “irresponsible tenants” and through restrictions on what the landlords can do.

President Robert Gentiles told council Airbnb is”infringing on rental housing.”

He said the provincial Rental Tenancy Act allows people to go without paying rent for six months. Gentiles added the landlord often goes bankrupt.

 Association member Ken Horrick presented a long list of issues that landlords face including tenant behaviours, such as addictions, hoarding, theft and damaging property.

Following the session, Mayor Panciuk told Quinte News  the landlords’ main issue is with the provincial government.

Representatives of the Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation outlined federal funds that can be accessed.

Consultant Anthony Adrien told council the city will have its own CMHC marketing consultant to assist with applications.

Quinte Landlords Association member Ken Horricks, March 18, 2019 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)

Panciuk emphasized the city needs the affordable housing because “the lack of affordable housing is holding back the economy.”

He says Belleville has a “real problem.”

The mayor challenged councillors to”…think about it overnight…” and come up with ideas for Tuesday’s session that could be considered at the operating budget in April.

He said, “This (lack of affordable housing) is holding us back and called it “damaging” to Belleville.

In the media interview, he said, “I think city council certainly had their minds focused on the challenges and opportunities and tomorrow (Tuesday) I’m looking forward to something concrete to come out as recommendations.”

He pointed out “It always comes down to money. We had Smith (Bay of Quinte MPP and Government House Leader Todd Smith) and Parliamentary Assistant (to Minister of Municipal Affairs Steve Clark) Hogarth here. They talked about a lot of things but they didn’t talk about any funding for us.”

Some housing statistics

Percentage of rental households spending 30% or more of income on shelter:

Belleville  49.9% Quinte West 41.6%  Peterborough 53.6%

Average rent in 2018: Belleville $1036, Eastern Ontario $975

Rental stock: Belleville 37.9%, Quinte West 25.7%, Peterborough 37.9%

Rental housing starts in 2010 to 2018:

Belleville 234, Quinte West 33, Peterborough 273, Kingston 2,242