AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Agency blasts city for slow response
A planned 36-unit affordable housing complex in Edmonton’s west end is in jeopardy of losing federal grants as it waits for City of Edmonton approval on a proposal dating back to April 2019.
In addition to federal housing agency funding up to $300,000, the Jasper Place Wellness Centre also received $2.7 million in funding from the province last April for the three-building permanent supportive housing complex in Glenwood.
With permits from the city being the last requirement — and Edmonton’s housing issue in the spotlight as Camp Pekiwewin in Rossdale sits at full capacity — CEO Murray Soroka said it was frustrating to hear Mayor Don Iveson and councillors on Thursday pin a lack of affordable housing on senior levels of government. After receiving provincial funding last April, Soroka said they filed a rezoning application right away.
“I think they absolutely crossed the line for me personally. We could be losing funding from a federal agency they’re calling on to fund this,” he said in an interview with Postmedia Friday.
“It’s extremely disappointing. It feels disingenuous to be able to say the province is at fault here when the city can’t even within themselves figure out how to bring their resources to bear.”
From Soroka’s perspective, the complex is ready to be built by this fall. They own the land and the funding is in place.
But he said he has received little communication from the city on the hold up for the development permit so construction can start.
While continuing to wait for this development permit, Soroka said his organization has seven other properties purchased and ready to go for a total of 120 housing units.
On Thursday, Iveson said finding a housing solution within the next 10 weeks before winter weather hits for those staying at the camp is urgent and called on the senior levels of government to step up.
“We need decisive action from all orders of government, and the City of Edmonton stands ready to spring into action for better and more durable response than the camp,” he said. “We’re on a 10week plan to end homelessness. Before it gets too cold, we want to provide them with safe shelter options.”
Whatever that plan entails, Soroka said their housing units could certainly be a part of it if the development permit process goes through.
“I want in on Iveson’s 10-week plan. If you want to do it in 10 weeks, we’re here, we’re ready,” he said, noting the three buildings will be factory built and can be ready within that time frame.
In a response from the city’s planning department, spokeswoman Karen Burgess said after the site rezoning was approved by city council last November, the development permit applications were only received about one month ago and are still under review. The city has a goal of building 900 units of permanent, supportive housing by 2024.
“The city is working with the applicant to address some outstanding questions and concerns about the application before a decision can be rendered,” Burgess said in an email to Postmedia.
“It’s important for the city to balance the need for timely permit processing with the need to ensure that permit applications receive the proper review. Proper permit review is what helps ensure that what is built is safe and compatible with the surrounding community.”
In a statement from the province, Ministry of Community and Social Services spokeswoman Diane Carter said Minister Rajan Sawhney visited Camp Pekiwewin earlier this month and is committed to finding appropriate housing for those residents.
Because of the urgency, Edmonton city council has added a “homelessness and social disorder — intergovernmental update” to it’s Monday meeting agenda that will be discussed in private.
Since the start of COVID -19, 762 people have been housed in Edmonton, but about 1,900 people remain homeless.