Protection for Vulnerable Residential Tenants
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate for the Government of Alberta to amend existing legislation or pass new legislation to increase protection for vulnerable residential tenants;
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate for the Government of Alberta to create or improve financial supports available to vulnerable residential tenants; and
FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate for the Government of Alberta to continue its work improving the availability of affordable housing for vulnerable residential tenants.
WHEREAS the Alberta Residential Tenancies Act provides few protections for vulnerable residential tenants;
WHEREAS residential tenants in Alberta communities are vulnerable to unregulated annual rent increases, which can result in increased negative outcomes for Albertans, and for the communities in which they reside;
WHEREAS affordable housing for families, seniors and individuals is defined as housing that costs not more than 30% of a household’s total annual income, including heat, water and sewer expenses;
WHEREAS residential tenants required to spend more than 30% of household income on rent are increasingly vulnerable;
WHEREAS it is within provincial authority to protect vulnerable residential tenants through legislation, and it is also within provincial authority to create or increase rental subsidies and other housing supports to the most vulnerable Albertans;
• When rent exceeds 30% of household income, a variety of individual and social issues arise, including:
• Increased mental health crisis and anxiety around experiencing homelessness and paying rent or bills;
• Increased access to foodbank and food recovery programs;
• Increased need for donated or free personal hygiene products;
• Decreased ability to pay for childcare and extracurricular activities for children;
• Decreased ability to engage in community activities;
• Increased applications to Alberta Supports and seniors housing authorities for rent subsidies;
• Increased job hunting for sufficient income;
• Increased waitlists for Social Housing;
• Increased negative impacts on employers; and
• Decrease in community stability, including families and individuals having to relocate.
• Other jurisdictions have recognized the need for provincial protections for vulnerable residential tenants, such as British Columbia; Manitoba; Ontario; and Prince Edward Island.
• This resolution should be given high priority as it both impacts our most vulnerable residents in all Alberta communities, and negatively impacts our local and provincial economies.
• This issue and call to action align with the Alberta Municipalities strategic initiatives of Welcoming and Inclusive Communities (WIC) and Social Issues Scoping.