As federal mortgages end for co-operative housing over the next seven years in Burnaby, taking subsidies for low-income residents with them - a meeting to discuss the issue has been set.
The Co-operative Housing Federation of B.C. is inviting the public to a "You hold the key: fix the co-op housing crunch" event in Burnaby on March 20.
As the Burnaby NOW previously reported, close to one-third of residents living in every co-op rely on federal subsidies through social housing agreements. The city has 26 non-profit housing co-operatives, with 1,900 units. At least 400 households in Burnaby will be negatively affected by losing federal assistance.
"The clock is ticking for hundreds of low-income Burnaby co-op members like seniors, the disabled and single parents who rely on rent subsidies from the federal government to make their homes affordable," a media release states.
The federation intends to update Burnaby co-op communities on the campaign to keep "vulnerable British Columbians" from potentially becoming victims of economic evictions.
Thom Armstrong, executive director of the provincial federation, will discuss the rental assistance program and how his organization wants the provincial government to implement it.
It's also an opportunity for co-op members to share how the issue will affect them and their communities.
The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Halston Hills Co-op, 8868 Horne Street, in the common room. For more information, contact Don Hauka, campaign coordinator, at [email protected], or at 604-879-5111, ext. 150.
