Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
Tuesday, 10 January 2012 01:20
Developers will be required to provide more compensation to low
income Vernon residents who are displaced by new development, under new
policy backed by city council. The change is in response to 35 tenants who will be losing
their housing, when a new seniors complex goes ahead at the west end of
30th Avenue. 
Councillor Juliette Cunningham (pictured) says the displaced tenants will get two months rent as compensation, paid by the property owner, double the normal amount. She tells Kiss FM,"And I do get the sense the developer was quite
open to that type of thing because I think he felt some responsibility
to that type of displacement, so I think this is a good first step." The John Howard Society's Housing Outreach worker will coordinate the
dispersal of the compensation to make sure it goes to housing needs. Mayor Rob Sawatzky says it just seems like a fair thing to do. "All those decisions are always abitrary. What is the magic right
number? It can be very difficult to find a new place in one month,
especially when you're low income, so it's quite logical to get a second
month to try and find other lodging." City planner Dale Rintoul says the main intent of the policy is to not see those tenants become homeless. He says the developers will be made aware of the policy at an
affordable housing forum January 26th from 3 to 6pm at the Schubert
Centre.-----------
Also Read Compensation sought for tenants October 26, 2011 1:00 AM
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