ELECTION ISSUES
THERE IS A TOWERING affordable housing problem in Ward 5.
Hamilton’s low-income rental crisis is a city-wide challenge thanks to skyrocketing property values and a corresponding development boom. But rents are spiking faster in the east end, according to city statistics, which show tenants paid an average of $1,009 a month last year compared to $724 in 2012.
Increasingly, tenants in aging Ward 5 highrises and townhouse complexes are banding together to fight rent hikes and a perceived effort to push out low-income tenants.
A lot of advocacy has been aimed at the provincial government, which sets annual maximum rent increase at 1.8 per cent — but also allows higher hikes for renovations to deal with structural or safety problems.
But there is a role for the city, too, said Linda Habibi, a resident in one of four buildings in the Stoney Creek Towers complex in Riverdale, a lowincome neighbourhood home to many new immigrants.
“There has to be a way for them to step up — not just building government housing, but ensuring tenants in existing (private) buildings have safe, affordable places to live,” said Habibi, who is part of a five-monthold rent strike alongside dozens of other tenants in the Stoney Creek Towers.
The tenants are calling on owner