Page 6

TERRACE HERALD, TERRACE, BS. —

BRIEF TO TERRACE COUNCIL WARNS:
Housing situation

The following brief was pres-

* ented to Terrace Municipal Coun-

‘eit by members of the Com-
=" munity Resources Committee:

‘': The housing situation in Ter-
" race has reached critical pro-
*' portions. There are net enough
“houses, apartments, or accom
odations of any other nature, to

7 4¢ provide dwellings for the grow=

“cing population of this commun

*, ity.
* age means difficulty in finding

,ancial means, the situation in
‘Terrace is desperate, Families |

_ area, For instance, in several

For some, the housing short-

a suitable home, Those who do
find a place to live will be pay-
ing a rent out of proportion to
the kind of facilities being of-
fered.

For others, with limited fin

with numerous children are liy- |
ing in homes that should be con- |
demned,

The Community Resources!
Committee has done some re-
search into the problem and has
prepared this brief on the re-
sults of research by several
members of the community who
are dealing directly with these
areas, The purpose of the brief
will be to present the problem
as we sec it and to offer re-
commendations on how the prob-
lem might be met.

The Department of Health and
the Department of Welfare in
Terrace have run into some de-
plorable conditions in this. town
and in the closely surrounding

homes there is a complete lack
of plumbing facilities, One wo-~
man with four children obtains
all her cooking, cleaning, and
washing water from a neigh-
bour's house across the street,
Outhouses still exist in more
than a few homes. These homes
are dilapitated, in disrepair, and
in many cases are totally in-
adequate for human habitation. :

Rents for such placesrunfrom |
$65 to $90 per month. This is
more than should be charged, :
we feel, and is certainly more
than a family with limited re-
sources can afford.

A woman with seven children
would consider herself lucky to
find a anc bedroom home withone
cold water tap in the kitchen
and an outhouse in the back
for 875 a month.

Many of these homes are rent=
ed privately and the rents used
to cover taxes on land, The land-
lord does no repairs.

At least two of these buildings
have been recently condemned
and a good number more are not
fit to be Hved in. But, there {s
no other place for these people
to go, They cannot afford the
rents being charged in other
types of accommodation,

We include a list of 27 homes
we feel are inadequate and should
not be used as homes for any-
one, and are at the moment, oc-
cupled. This is a partial lst
and does not include the Thorn
hill area which is also exper-
jencing similar problems,

The problems discussed above
are crucial and the people in
volved are in most urgent need
of more adequate housing for a
reasonable rent.

However, the housing problem
is more widespread.

A family moving to Terrace
in the next few weeks will be

‘lueky if they can find any kind
‘of roof to put over their head,

A+ check with real estate
agents in town turr2d up this
report last week,

Thornhill reports not a single
vacancy and about 9 inquiries
per day,

Pruden Realty said one vae-
ancy, a house trailer -was com-
ing up. The agent said the de-
mand for homes usually slacks
off this time of year but this
year it hasn’t, He
reported about 3 or 4 in-
quiries per day from families
wishing to settle in Terrace,

Whitman and Smith and Arm-
strong Realty could give no re-
ports immediately but from all
indications, they too have little
to offer,

As an indication of the grow-
ing proportions of this problem
the recent report can he com=
pared to a similar survey made
in June of this year,

Contracts with all real estate
agents showed a total of about
60 rentals on their books.

For the most part these were
! ol@ homes tn poor condition, no
more than two bedrooms, no
basement, and the landlords
again unwilling to make any re-
: pairs.

The real estate agents agreed
a fair rent for theseplaces would
be 875 to $80 based on the type
of accomodation being offered.
These places are now all rent-
ed and the tenants are paying
rent from $100 to $200 for very
basic accommodation.

There are a few houses rent-
ed privately and again the rent
asked is too high for the type
of accommodation being offered.

‘There are apartments in Ter=

race but rents start at $150 for
a one bedroom apartment,

All real estate agents agree
there is a need for more reas-
onably priced rentals.

This is the situation as it
stands, Any family coming to
Terrace in the next few weeks
will be unable to find suftable
accommodation. If they do find
a roof to put over their heads
they will probably be paying too
high a rent for what is avail-
able, For those in the low in
come bracket, rent is taking up
grocery money,

If the problem is not allev-
jated in the near future, rents
can do nothing but rise beyond
their already too high level, The
Jack of adequate housing will
certainly discourage settlement
in this area of evenskilledpeople
such as teachers, professional
men and bussinessmen.

Several alternatives for sol-
ution are available with federal
and provincial aid.

We strongly recommend a mo-
dest low rental housing project
with an eye to those in moredes-
perate straits, Under the Nation-
al Housing Act, municipalities
are eligibie for aid with the
federal government providing 75
per cent of the capital costs
and provincial government pro-
viding the other 25per cent. Mun-
icipalities would receive full
taxes on the project.

However, MUNICIPALITIES
MUST INITIATE proceedings,

Rents fs such a project would
be based on income and need
Any deficits in rent would be
met on a 75 per cent federal,
12'4 per cent provincial, 121%
per cent municipal basis,

Under section 35A of the Nas
tional Housing Act, individual
homes, town houses, . or apart-
ment buildings can be built or
purchased to be used as moder-
ate cost public housing, Famil-
jes of any income could be ac-
cepted depending on need,

Another alternative is the for-
mation of a private association
to build moderate cost housing.
This association would ‘raise
the first 10 per cent of the cap-
ital costs and then he eligible
for a 90 per cent loan at cost,
The association would have to
limit their return to 5 per cent
of the initial investment.

We also suggest that some
board, association or committee

of basis for rent based on ac-) initiate
commodation available.

could be formed to set guide-| cil to give the housing prob-| The
lines and establish some sort| lem some lmmediatepriorityand| Committee offers all their co-| search, ta provide public eiuca committee
proceedings to obtain] operation in an effort to solve] ton’ and ‘to obtain information: |are tin with

mote low and moderate rental] all aspects of the housing prob-

| lem. We have th

“YOUR:

has reached critical proportions _

Community’ Resources |; available to do continuing

We would be willing:to contrib- le

ute to discussions 5 of arly pa ossible ard und

re=|approach to

~ PROVINCIAL GOVERNMEN

_ SAYS ©

“D0. IT NOW!

“Enquire for particulars of the’ Provincial New Home Building Grant
Up to $1, 000 Outright Grant Available. .

ry

GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Department of Finance’ . a

- Parliament Buildings, .
Victoria, British Columbia

ets peoplewho

3-cushion CHESTERFIELD SUITE

Ne ieee Reg Reg. § $299.00 $2 49, 00

Stubby SCREW DRIVER
Set of 3 Reg. $2.00

TOILET TISSUE”
Reg. 49

7-piece DINETTE SUITE

Reg. $164. 00 _) 32. 50

S-piece DINETTE SUITE

SIT $62.50

5-piece DINETTE SUITE

Ney ees $164.95

BURKLINE RECLINERS

- Reg. $149.95

HANKIN N. RECLINERS

pba nee $78, 88

Hostess PLATFORM. ROCKER

New ai a sone 4, 88

HOSTESS CHAIR

men go

| : Res, $299.00 $9, 49. 00 ; |
| Corvette 23”

CONSOL TYPE
TELEVISION

Zenith

=97 FREEZERS (ae

28 ‘eu, ft. _
Reg: $299.95
Now »

$2 74,50

ewe Fadi de sft 2 al Diy usuyt. DHS.
trad

aL TGP Ragtinss ris

TRANSISTOR
RADIOS

10” Radial Arm

TABLE SAW
-. by de Walt

- Reg. $299.00,

#10’ LUFKIN TAPES &

| Reg. $2.59

_ MANTEL :
RADIOS
aed S168 95

CURLING -
BROOMS

Reg. $6. 25

Complete line of
WEATHER
‘STRIPPING

oe ‘Regs: Se’ per: lin.: ft B
mn Extra Spectal