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In the midst of an affordable housing crisis, close to half of the units at a Manitoba Housing independent living complex for seniors in the Interlake sit empty.
The issue of vacancies at the 22-unit Inwood Lodge came to light Tuesday after question period when the Progressive Conservative MLA for Interlake-Gimli demanded to know when two washrooms near a common area would re-open.
“The residents of Inwood Lodge deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” Derek Johnson told the house. “Instead, they’ve been told that if the bathrooms aren’t kept clean enough, it will be locked.”
He referred to a notice that was posted on the door of the washrooms and demanded to know when Housing Minister Bernadette Smith would address the issue.
Outside the chamber, he said he’d met with residents on Sept. 22 about their concern that the province might close Inwood Lodge, 80 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
Johnson said its vacancy rate has been climbing, and the closure of the communal washrooms raised red flags for residents.
When he met with them, nine of the 22 suites were vacant, and two more residents were planning to move out, Johnson said.
“It’ll be up to a 50 per cent vacancy rate in the building, unless there’s somebody that has moved in that I’m unaware of in the last couple days,” the MLA said. Johnson said the minister’s staff told him no one is on the waiting list to move in to Inwood Lodge.
“It’s so important to keep these facilities full, ensure that people can move in if they apply,” he said. “It’s being heated anyway.”
The province may as well collect some revenue from renting out units, even if it is affordable rent that’s geared to income, he said.
The housing minister said the government doesn’t want vacancies in any units.
“If there are people in that area that want to occupy those units, we’d be more than happy to help to make sure that happens.”
She said a Manitoba Housing staff member is going to Inwood Lodge Thursday to look into the communal washroom issue.
The minister said her government is investing in Manitoba Housing after it was defunded and neglected by the former PC government.
Smith called Manitoba Housing a “Crown jewel” of the province “just like Manitoba Hydro.”
“We have to ensure that people have access to safe affordable housing,” she said. “The only way we can do that is by us, as government, providing it and making sure we are maintaining it and that it’s there for years to come.”
The Tories cut Manitoba Housing tenant services and maintenance funding, sold a Manitoba Housing apartment block in downtown Winnipeg and failed to intervene when Lions Place affordable seniors housing was sold to a private equity company, she said.
The NDP government has proposed legislation to prevent such sales without government approval. Bill 12, the Housing and Renewal Corporation Amendment Act, requires owners of certain social housing buildings to get provincial consent before selling, demolishing, or changing the use of the property. Its aim is to protect public investment and preserve affordable housing stock.
Critics have expressed concern it will discourage investment in social housing and lead to reduced development.
