Last Week: Annette Keogh, PELASS
Annette Keogh is Manager of Housing Services for Prince Edward Lennox & Addington Social Services (PELASS), which delivers Ontario Works, Childrens Services and Housing Services in the two counties. She says the housing crisis in PEC is getting bigger and there is a waiting list of 5-7 years to obtain a rental unit through Housing Services.
In the County, there are 115 social housing units, including 30 family units, in 4 buildings all located in Picton. There are also 129 units in buildings operated by not for profits: one family building in Picton and a seniors building in each of Wellington and Picton. In addition, there are 53 Rent Supplement units situated throughout the County, where the tenant pays 30% of their income to the private landlord and PELASS pays the balance. In all cases, rent is geared to income (RGI). In order to qualify, household income must be ≤ $34,800 for a 1-bedroom unit and ≤ $42,600 for a 2-bedroom unit.
Rent for affordable housing units is 80% of average market rent for the area, as established by CMHC. For PEC those rates have been unrealistically low and PELASS has appealed the past 5 years. For 2019, CMHC said the market rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the County was $760. At last, in 2019, PELASS won their appeal and the average market rent was raised to $987, inclusive.
PELASS developed a Ten-Year Plan in 2014 and a Five-Year Plan Review in 2019, which outlined Action Plans in three areas:
- Emergency Shelter – effort underway to have a Warming Centre at the Hope Centre in Picton, put in place a homelessness prevention strategy and a landlord engagement strategy;
- Affordable Housing – working with developers, trying to remove barriers to the creation of more affordable housing units;
- Shovel-Ready Projects – to be ready to make use of funds when committed by the provincial government
In other Club Business, Karen will post a notice on the Facebook page of the “Prince Edward Well-Managed Community Group” to see if a community organization can make use of our old projector.
Liz and Dave will attend a planning meeting with the County re: Family Day activities at the arena and a sign-up sheet will be circulated for members to help with the event.
Some members objected to spending Club funds on printed placements so the idea will not be pursued.
District is trying to raise $1MM in commemoration of Bill Patchett and has already raised $800M.
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