Several Langley seniors groups are calling for mandatory subsidized rental housing.
In an advocacy letter sent to Langley City council, Langley Seniors in Action together with several other senior serving organizations, expressed concern about the impact of recent development on the supply of affordable rental units, and called for maintaining existing affordable housing on existing sites where possible, along with requiring a minimum percentage of subsidized accommodation in new buildings, where rent would be based on income.
"[We] strongly urge that the City of Langley embrace evolving inclusionary zoning principles which generally require a minimum percentage of subsidized units within the redevelopment process," said the letter.
Rising rates are rendering rental housing too pricey for older renters, the letter warned, and agencies have observed "a steep increase in the number of marginalized and low-income seniors in particular, who are unable to find any affordable rental accommodation and are therefore facing housing precarity and homelessness."
It calls for requiring “subsidized rent geared to income” options.
"Given the urgent need, we challenge our local government to expedite this analysis and to provide the necessary leadership to protect our most vulnerable by adopting these new and updated policies to adequately provide for our most basic housing needs."
A recent City move that raised the amount developers must pay displaced tenants when their rental building is torn down was described as a "notable improvement" and "well-intentioned" but "woefully inadequate given the lack of options either currently available or being generated in the ongoing re-development process.
The letter urges the city to apply the new compensation policy to existing projects already underway on Eastleigh Crescent and Michaud Crescent.
Signatories include Paul Crump - board president, Langley Seniors in Action; Leslie Gaudette – board president, Council of Senior Citizens Organizations of BC; Loretta Solomon – board president, Langley Senior Resources Society; Kate Ludlam – executive director, Langley Senior Resources Society; Daniel Collins – CEO, Inclusion Langley Society; Christine McCracken – executive director of programs, Encompass Support Services Society; Ron Bergen – founder and president, Ron Cares Society and Keri Severinski – residency coordinator, Bria Communities (Magnolia Gardens/Sunridge Gardens).
