With the winding down of rental support for a Salvation Army run and Durham Region financially supported affordable housing program, some 200+ house-insecure persons in Durham, are the hapless victims facing evictions unless they can come up with the rentals on their own.
The impacted include 88 adults and 144 children, according to Salvation Army records.
But the collateral damage extends to those landlords too who offered their homes to the affordable rental scheme.
Not only do they have to find new tenants to lease their homes (which are going off the affordable market), they have to repair and renovate the properties as some of the homes are not left suitable for habitation, says a landlord.
“The Salvation Army owes me $15,000 and has to restore my houses so I can rent them – they are unlivable now….they do not return calls or emails….no one is talking and helping the landlords who have supported the program for years,” said Jennifer Johnson, who has two homes rented out under the scheme.
One of them is inhabited by a mother of nine, she said.
“One of my tenant is terrified; she is physically sick over this,” added Johnson.
The ending of affordable housing rental support has led to blame and counter-blame between the two institutions.
The Regional Municipality of Durham, which provided financial support for the program, has blamed the manager, Salvation Army, which has refuted the charges and, in turn, blamed the region for not continuing the program for the benefit of the affected individuals.