Upgrades and renovations to hundreds of affordable housing units in Edmonton are now complete.
A total of 882 units across 11 sites in the city underwent repairs over the past three years.
The renovations were funded back in 2023 from a $12.8 million contribution from the federal government, with the city kicking in an additional $10.5 million.
In a release, the city said the money is part of an agreement to repair social housing on city-owned land.
Residents of these units spend no more than 30 per cent of their income on rent — a deep subsidy that allows low-income households to afford groceries and other basic living expenses.
“We worked really hard to make sure every dollar and every dollar of investment counted for the future,” said Civida CEO Bree Claude.
Civida is an affordable housing management company that oversees operations at these and other sites in the city.
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The announcement of the completion took place at one of Civida’s complexes in the southeast community of Richfield, in the Mill Woods area.
The townhomes were originally built back in the 1960s and 1970s.
Repairs included “foundation fixes, electrical upgrades, energy efficiency enhancements and accessibility improvements.”
A tour of one of the freshly renovated units showed replacements to hot water tanks and windows, along with upgrades to lighting and fixtures.
“Many folks who have been living in affordable housing can also have all the same modern amenities, all the same fixtures and great design that new affordable housing looks like as well,” said Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack.
Knack said there is still a great need for total units of affordable housing and that funding continues to be the biggest barrier.
He added that building new should not mean neglecting what already exists.
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“It is still far more economical to say, ‘Let’s renovate existing housing instead of only building new housing’ (but) you need both. It’s a both/and situation.” Knack said.
Claude said the average rent for these units is about $460 and is based on a renter’s income. She added turnover in existing units is very low and that refreshing the spaces helps give tenants a sense of pride.
“The team that’s here can tell you it was not an easy feat to be able to manage all the renovations,” Claude said.
“Our tenants were very patient, they were in it for the long game and now enjoying the results of the beautiful site.”
An additional $10.3 million went towards improvements to 1,076 mixed-income townhomes and apartments at 15 sites owned by HomeEd, Edmonton’s non-profit housing corporation.
At least half of those units rent at less than 80 per cent of market rates.
The downside of Civida’s Property Management company is there One Pet Policy; I know people who had to get rid of the second pet (dog / cat) in order to get one of their units.
Unlike HomeEd which allows two pets but only allows you to rent a one bedroom apartment if you’re by yourself. The other real problem is people who have poor credit and accounts in collections are having trouble finding not only housing but jobs as well. A lot of us fled abusive relationships where they experienced some form of financial abuse. Let us not forget how the UCP Government is garnishing the Canadian Disability Benefit from those who are on AISH. In some cases the UCP automatically deducted $200 from people who hadn’t even received their results yet. God forbid what’s going to happen to those being transferred to ADAP on December 31st, 2027 when the UCP Government stops paying the $200 to match what we received on AISH and haven’t found work.
Soon to be slums.
Soon to be slums
Maybe try using that money for something good rather than supporting a bunch of lowlifes that don’t deserve it.. Wish I was homeless city and government can pay for me to sit around and get free housing while contributing nothjng to society… This is pathetic.
Ever drive by one of these Civida properties? There is always an overflowing dumpster with more trash scattered on the ground. These residents that live in townhouses should be required have a garbage cart and pay for trash removal, food scraps and recycling like the rest of us!!
Yeah, while bankrupting MOST EDMONTONIONS to build all these so called CITY OWNED PROPERTIES for the already homeless, low income, and disabled folks the sign says, not owned by edmonton taxpayers, at all. Wish I had know so I could have stopped working a long time ago and ended up a homeless person so I could get one of these NEW CITY OWNED UNITS. WHO PRAY tell Mr. Knack is now going to financially support them all when things break down, taxes need to be paid etc.etc.