Low vacancy rates and the high cost of rent are some of the issues being addressed at a two-day forum which began in Saskatoon on Tuesday.
The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation is hosting the forum on non-profit housing.
Malcolm Neill of Ranch Ehrlo, one of the presenters at the forum, says his organization does have about 100 affordable housing units in Regina but there is never enough to meet demand.
“I think the economy in Saskatchewan has changed drastically,” he says. “We’ve all experienced the housing boom — and in the last six or seven years, we’ve went from very high vacancy rates to no vacancy rates (and) waiting lists to get into units.”
Meanwhile, if you have a complaint about public housing, Kevin Fenwick wants to hear from you.
Fenwick is Saskatchewan’s ombudsman and he handles public housing disputes but has no jurisdiction over the private market.
He was one of the speakers at the forum this morning and he says his office has seen a rise in recent years in complaints from tenants who feel they are being unfairly evicted.
“Where we have seen more complaints come into our office are issues where housing authorities have moved to evict people from housing,” he says. “Bed bugs, for example, have become an increasing issue.”
The two-day housing forum wraps up today.