Highlights from the recent Bruce County Council meeting show the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting vulnerable tenants.
A report to council noted that by the end of September there were 48 notices for non-payment of rent have been issued in Bruce County Housing.
Council learned a number of tenants are experiencing financial hardships, which has made it difficult to pay rent.
Tenant coordinators have worked with these tenants to establish payment plans and provide support.
When the provincial government declared a provincial emergency in March, it also implemented a moratorium on residential evictions.
In the meantime, Council was also told the provincial rent freeze will have an impact in Bruce County. The Provincial Government announced the introduction of legislation to freeze rents to ensure that renter households do not receive a rent increase in 2021.
The rent freeze applies to most rental units, including community housing, which includes affordable housing units, rent-geared-to-income units, and low end of market units. There is likely to be a financial impact to non-profit housing providers as it relates to 2021 budgets. The County’s Housing and Corporate Services staff said they will continue to monitor the revenue budgeted.