A group of tenants in Halifax say they are slowly but surely being forced from their homes, and they’re warning others living in affordable housing that the same thing could happen to them.
They say a number of low-income residents are being forced from their neighbourhoods to make way for high-end properties they couldn’t possibly afford.
“This is gentrification. It’s here and we know that. It’s going to move from our building, who else is up, who’s next on the list,” says Deb Key, chair of the Brunswick Street Tenants Association.
Harbour City Homes says it can no longer afford to maintain nine properties in the city’s north end, so it will have to put them up for sale.
The tenants worry they won’t be able to afford to stay and are calling on the City of Halifax to step in.
“I do feel the city has a responsibility to keep us in our homes,” says Key.
But the city says only one of the nine properties has a buyback offer. Taxpayers would have to pay $160,500 for the property and, because of jurisdiction, would not be able to operate the home unless they get a pass from the province.
“We would have to give it to a non-profit in the business of public housing,” says city spokesman Brendan Elliott.
Key says that’s exactly what the Brunswick Street Tenants Association would like to see happen.
“Give us that same opportunity, allow us as tenants to form our own co-op to be able to keep these buildings where they need to be,” says Key.
That could impact other residents in the long run. Harbour City Homes is planning to reinvest the money made on the sale of properties into upgrading other low-income homes.
While some residents are vowing to fight gentrification, others say they are simply hoping for the best and are being offered other solutions.
“We have other options to go where we want, so I may be pushed out of here,” says resident Kathleen Blois.
Meanwhile, Service Nova Scotia is on the record saying tenants have immediate tenure and can’t be arbitrarily evicted.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Marie Adsett
