N.B. group urges more affordable housing

An anti-poverty group in New Brunswick is hoping the new provincial government will make some changes in regards to affordable housing.

The Voice of Real Poverty says there are more than 4,500 individuals and families waiting for affordable housing throughout the province.

President Bethany Thorne-Dykstra said there are a number of barriers preventing those on social assistance and low-income earners from finding affordable housing.

She said housing rentals are too expensive and some landlords don't rent to families.

"The third barrier that we saw is income discrimination," she said.

"Landlords are often asking the tenants their income source, and once they're hearing it's from social assistance, the landlord quickly denies them housing."

The group has put forward eight recommendations to the new government aimed at increasing the stock of affordable housing in the province.

Thorne-Dykstra said one of those recommendations is to increase social assistance rates.

"We're talking only about only an additional $200 a month for these people to try to work with the system that they're in. [That money] being applied to their rents would help solve the issue of housing and the displacement of families, especially as the cold weather comes on," she said.

"I mean, this is so stressful for people."

Elizabeth Gray and her husband support their three children on disability.

Gray said she's hopeful the new government will make some changes and help other families.

"I know how hard it is and there are other people out there that are suffering just like I did, that will be [suffering] this winter that don't have the subsidizing."

The group's other recommendations include adding a reasonable cause requirement for evictions, fining landlords for discrimination and providing a housing allowance for minimum wage earners.