Calgary's affordable housing could pose health and safety risks, says report

A new city report going before committee on Thursday says thousands of affordable housing properties in Calgary have not been inspected for years.

"The majority of these buildings are over 35 years old and could pose a health and safety risk to the tenants if lifecycle maintenance is not appropriately conducted," according to an audit of the assets managed by the Calgary Housing Company.

The city-ownedCalgary Housing Company(CHC) manages 7,012 affordable housing units in Calgary.

Of those, it owns 1,771 therest belong directly to the City of Calgary and the province. However, CHC does notreceive funding to inspect the condition of those units.

"It's those ones that haven't had the full building condition assessment and it's those ones that we're looking to the province and the city to actually pay for. It's their property," said Ward 11 Coun. BrianPincott.

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Given their age, auditors identified provincially and city-owned properties as having "potential safety, reputational and financial risks."

Pincott, who is also the chair of CHC, says if action isn't taken soonCalgary's affordable housing units will become a liability.

"In the next 10 years in Calgary, just to maintain not to increase, not to deal with the waiting list of 3,500 peoplewe're talking about $40-million," he said.

• Listen to Calgary Eyeopener host, David Gray, in conversation with Ward. 11 Coun. Brian Pincott

Calgary Eyeopener7:17Affordable housing risks

Thousands of city and province-owned buildings haven't been inspected in years, even decades. We talk to Brian Pincott, the Chair of the Calgary Housing Company, about what that means for tenants.

To mitigate future risks, the reportrecommends the CHC seek clarification about itsresponsibilities for the affordable housing assets it manages onbehalf of the city and the province.