Manitoba’s official opposition is demanding to know whether the NDP government will replace Flin Flon public housing units that closed two years ago.
This comes after the province offered a non-committal answer to Reminder questions about the fate of the abandoned government housing complex at 4 Hemlock Drive.
“If you’ve made a promise to a community that you’re going to replace affordable housing, it shouldn’t take two years to make a decision,” said Bonnie Mitchelson, housing critic for the Progressive Conservatives.
In a phone interview with The Reminder, Mitchelson pledged to write a letter this week to Housing Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross to seek an explanation of the situation.
In 2012 and 2013, provincial officials told The Reminder that the 14 units of 4 Hemlock Drive would be rebuilt either at the same site or an alternate location such as Aspen Grove.
At one point officials said they hoped to begin construction in the fall of 2013, but nothing ever materialized.
As a follow-up, The Reminder recently asked the province whether a new government housing facility would indeed proceed. This time, no promises were mentioned.
“Manitoba Housing is considering alternatives for providing new family housing in the north as part of a larger strategy to create new affordable and social housing units across the province,” the province said in a statement. “In the meantime, we will be looking at the feasibility of converting the 4 Hemlock site in Flin Flon to seniors housing.”
While Mitchelson said more seniors housing should be built if the need exists, the province gave “a very vague answer” on its plans for affordable housing.
“I’m sure there are families in Flin Flon that need affordable housing – there are throughout the province,” she added.
“If [the province has] got it in the plans, there should be a timeline. And it sounds to me like they’re just delaying and delaying.”
In the latter half of 2012, 4 Hemlock Drive was vacated due to moisture problems. All tenants were transferred to other public housing units.
With Flin Flon facing a growing homelessness problem, some social advocates have argued the need for affordable housing in the community has never been greater.
