A cancelled program that supported landlords and tenants will see its dollars channelled into City of Red Deer’s Social Planning programs and services.
City council agreed during operational budget talks to reallocate $76,529 from the Landlord and Tenant Information Services and invest nearly $36,000 of it into the city’s existing Housing Solutions Fund. Social Planning Manager Scott Cameron said the Housing Solutions Fund allows the department to evaluate any gaps and services across the community.
The remainder $40,000 would go into existing personnel costs with the Social Planning Department.
Councillor Gail Parks said it was premature to cancel funding for a program that has run close to 20 years in the city.
Council decided an administrative review should be done midway through 2010 to check on what the demand still was for the service.
For 12 years, the nonprofit Community Information and Referral Society ran the program in its office using municipal dollars. The city decided to terminate funding because the province provides a similar service through Service Alberta’s toll-free Consumer Contact Centre.
CiRS executive director Dawna Morey said on Friday that the program ended on Dec. 31, but it continues to have information tips sheets, legally accepted lease agreements and eviction notices.
“The service had been here as far back as 1992, as far as I know,” Morey said.
An in-house advisor that used to help clients in person was laid off after 10 years.
“Our calls are being referred to Service Alberta,” Morey said on Friday.
Morey said the CiRS office continues to get a lot of calls regarding landlord and tenant issues, but is having to refer them on.
“We will continue to track (the call volume) because we are concerned and we want to know what the impact is going to be to the community,” she said.
When people walked into the office with tenant/landlord issues, they often had other issues as well. The advisor was often able to offer other supports.
“Service Alberta just addresses the Tenancy Act kind of things,” Morey said.
Morey said her office continues to work with the city so any gaps can be addressed.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com