Council working to remodel Regional Housing

In one of its last acts before the election, Niagara Regional Council took another step forward in revamping Niagara Regional Housing.

Council has agreed in principle for a new governance structure, dubbed the hybrid model.

The changes would see Niagara Regional Housing continue to manage the social housing real estate. The Region’s community services division would take over the administrative functions.

About 5,000 families — roughly 10,000 men, women, and children — are waiting for a social housing placement.

St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik said he was for anything that would help people escape the waiting list, but cautioned council that the public won’t stand for more bureaucratic silos. What Niagara needs is “a system that works.”

Niagara housing oversees a sprawling network that helps families with one of the most basic of human needs, a place to live. The agency has 2,600 public housing units in highrise and low-rise apartment buildings, townhouses and detached homes where the tenants pay rent geared to income. In the private sector, it provides legislative oversight for 65 nonprofit and co-operative housing programs in addition to rental agreements with landlords for another 1,000 units.

Niagara housing also offers financial assistance to qualified homeowners for renovations, major repairs, and accessibility modifications, and provides a down-payment assistance program for eligible applicants.

The educational arm teaches clients life-skills, conflict resolution, and crisis management, all with the goal of fostering successful tenancies.

The vote Thursday left the door open for changes to the plan after a costed implementation plan is presented to the next council sometime in the new year.

James Hyatt, the vice-chair of the Niagara Regional Housing board, said a solid implementation plan is imperative.

“We have to have the most efficient and effective building program in place and then have it monitored and managed with the long-term goal of producing substantially more housing.”