'A crisis situation': Housing issues prevalent in North Central Regina
North Central has entered a crisis situation according to Regina’s mayor. Boarded up and abandoned residential units are on the rise as housing issues are affecting more and more people.
Demolition crews are removing the last of the rubble from the site of an explosion that rocked the neighborhood on Nov. 14.
The blast levelled a vacant government housing complex and damaged a neighbouring apartment building beyond repair.
“We have allowed a neighbourhood to basically enter a crisis situation,” Mayor Sandra Masters said.
The city points to a growing number of homes being left unattended.
“There is also an extraordinary number of abandoned and boarded up properties. That’s on us. Building housing standards are on us to enforce.”
Masters says city action is coming in the New Year.
Action that could impact the Government of Saskatchewan, which owns 3,000 vacant houses across the province with 700 in Regina.
Minister of Social Services Gene Makowsky said he has toured some of the properties.
“If something has chronically not been used for a certain amount of time for whatever reason the building is secured,” he explained.
“So windows aren’t broken or people aren’t in there and doing things we might not want them to do.”
NDP MLA Meara Conway said she believes the government is not taking advantage of the resources at their disposal.
“I know that they’ve alluded to the fact that some of them have fallen into disrepair,” she told reporters following Question Period on Monday.
“I know for a fact there are many vacant units sitting in desirable neighborhoods in fine condition because I’ve seen them myself.”
Regina resident Larissa Sellers says she tried to rent a vacant government home but was rejected because of a past dispute with a private landlord over a sump pump failure.
“I didn’t pay the rent because I got into an argument with them over that,” she explained.
As a result of the dispute, she’s been blacklisted by other landlords, including Regina Housing.
According to Conway, this situation highlights serious issues with the current system.
“[There is] absolutely no reason why she wouldn’t be a good candidate for public housing,” she said.
“So that is a huge red flag to me. This is public housing … for some people this is their last resort.”
The Government of Saskatchewan has said it is reviewing its tenant qualification policies for possible changes that could help fill vacant suites.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.