Lethbridge City Hall. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

City of Lethbridge approves rent subsidy for those impacted by COVID shutdowns

Dec 15, 2020 | 2:27 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Help will soon be on the way for residents of Lethbridge who have had their jobs and income impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lethbridge City Council voted 6-3 to approve allocating $500,000 from the Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve for short-term rent relief. Voting in opposition were Joe Mauro, Blaine Hyggen, and Ryan Parker.

Councillor Rob Miyashiro introduced the motion, saying that, with many businesses forced to close or operate at a limited capacity as a result of the provincial shutdowns, the city had to do what it can to support families.

READ MORE: Province announces business closures due to COVID surge

“There’s no federal rent support right now, there’s no provincial rent support right now, so people have been able to apply for the different fundings for COVID, but nothing specific like this.”

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The city already provides $252,000 annual for the Housing Rent Supplement Program, but that is for people with longer-term needs.

After receiving approval from council, it will now be up to administration to put together the specifics for how the new stream will work. This will include matters such as eligibility, how much money each person can access, how to apply, and which housing organizations will be able to administer funding.

“We’re hoping they’re going to look at other factors besides affordability and percentage of your income going to rent, which is the determinant for the other rent subsidy programs.”

“So [if] they can look at a person’s income as such that they’re being affected for loan payments or for the food or clothing they can afford, then we’re hoping that we can help all of these people with a culmination of all of their expenses.”

Miyashiro hopes to have the final report on the rent subsidy program sometime in January or shortly thereafter.

At this week’s city council meeting, the new operating budget was approved which includes a zero per cent change in municipal property taxes and utility rates and well as several reductions in funding.

READ MORE: Lethbridge city council approves operating budget, $1M LPS cut goes through