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Last Resort

More Housing evictions possible: Nichol

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Feb 21/01) - Five public housing evictions were issued last year and more could be on the way.

However, Rankin Inlet Housing Association housing manager Darren Nichol says eviction is a last resort the RIHA only employs when all options have been exhausted.

"The RIHA has proven itself to be remarkably fair, flexible and willing to negotiate in an effort to keep tenants in their homes, but there are limits," says Nichol.

"Sometimes you're left with no alternative."

Nichol says with tenants paying between $32 to $1,000 in rent, and the cost of running a household reaching up to $1,600 per month, the RIHA no longer has any room for financial manoeuvring.

Tenants are never evicted in Rankin from November to March and Nichol says most people in public housing are reliable.

"The vast majority of people pay their rent and the arrears problem is not an epidemic.

"We don't have an out of control rent collection process here."

Nichol says the RIHA normally gives a tenant two or three months to come in and work out a resolution before moving on collection action.

If letters to the tenant don't prompt any action, the next step for the RIHA would be to file for termination with the territorial rental officer.

A hearing is then scheduled to review the tenancy with the Department of Justice official, who would travel to Rankin to hear evidence from both sides before ruling on termination.

"This process is an absolute last resort. Most people come in and propose a reasonable agreement to keep up with their current rent and pay monthly on the arrears.

"We don't hold the bar excessively high. We're looking for resolutions."

Nichol says the RIHA has a past history of being too lenient and allowed some households to run up arrears of more than $10,000.

He says arrears were spiralling out of control and the RIHA had to tighten its belt.

"Another aspect of it was realizing there were 50 people on a waiting list for housing.

"We can't justify rent not being paid when so many people are waiting for public housing."