NDP announce plan to help seniors with housing

The NDP in Newfoundland and Labrador continued their campaign promises Tuesday by announcing housing assistance for seniors and low income earners.

In St. John's, NDPcandidate for St. John's Centre, Gerry Rogers, announcedaSeniors Rental Assistance Program.

"The key social determinant that pushes our seniors into poverty is the high cost of housing,"said Rogers.

"The stories are heartbreaking how many seniors say to me 'these are supposed to be my golden years, Inever thought I would get to this point'."

Daily Struggle

Yvonne Morgan lives in St. John's and knows first hand howhard it is to live on a low income.

She struggled for years after a number of personal and health setbacks before finally getting a rental supplement. Even with the supplement, she still struggles.

"My quality of life went from fairly good to absolutely horrible, it was like I lived in a black hole, it sucked the life out of me," said Morgan.

"Idon't know what it is to have fruit, vegetables, dairycan't afford none of that."

In the current rental subsidy program, the supplement is tied to thehousing unit and not the individual who lives there.

TheNDP'splanwill commit an additional $500,000 to rental supplements for seniors, withthe amount they receivebased on their income.

It alsopromises to make it 'portable', meaning the supplement is tiedto the individual and not the landlord.

"Then they will be able to get a rent supplement that will enable them to rent an apartment in the area where they choose," said Rogers.

In addition, the program will also look at offering assistance to seniors to negotiate rental costs and help with the search for an affordable place to live.

More help

NDP Leader Earle McCurdy also released details of the plan in Labrador.

Rental costs there can run anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 monthly.

McCurdy said a government under his leadership would address the high cost of rent to improve the lives of people in the region.

"Although there's a tremendous amount of money in circulation in the area, that huge Muskrat Falls project there's also a lot of people making the same money they always made in lower paid jobs," he said.

McCurdyadded thatthe New Democraticswould double the amount of money earmarked forrent supplements in Labrador to more than $200,000 annually.