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Lethbridge Housing Authority seeks council support to reinstate funds cut from 2017 budget

Aug 14, 2017 | 6:53 AM

LETHBRIDGE –  The Lethbridge Housing Authority will be looking for help from City Council today, to lobby local MLA’s for a reinstatement of $140,000 it says was cut from its 2017 rent subsidy budget.

According to a City Council Committee Report, previously LHA’s budge was $2,887,300. Their 2017 budget was reduced to $2,747,000

LHA says the money is used to provide rent supplements in the private landlord market to ensure more people have access to affordable housing.

Right now, the organization says it is helping 559 households get rent subsidies, while there are currently 521 applications on a waiting list, and an average of 50 new applications per month.

The report also indicates that market rents in Lethbridge Have increased by more than 15 per cent and supplement applications often include handwritten notes pleading for assistance.

The Housing Authority is also receiving numerous requests from the surrounding rural population from those wanting to move to the city.

A reinstatement of the $140,000 LHA says, would help an additional 30 families/individuals this year.