Seniors face 32% increase at North Van housing complex THE RESIDENTS of a senior citizens housing compiles in North Vancouver have charged the loca! Kiwanis organiza- tion with being flint-hearted in fight of an anneunced 32% rent hike scheduled for Oct. 1. And i North Vancouver politi- cal candidate, who has been lob- bying against the rent increase on the tenants’ behalf said the Kiwanis organization could come out looking like ‘*stum lords’ if’ it proceeds with the rent increase. But a Kiwanis official said thar while the organization needs the higher rents, it) will review the decision to implement the in- crease. Rov Blainey. president of the tenants’ association for the Kiwanis senior citizens housing complex at 331-371 East Ist St. in North Vancouver, said he does not believe the 320 rent increase is justified. Eighty-nine seniors and handicapped tenants live in the complex, which consists of three 46 f thought the idea of Kiwanis housing was to By Surj Rattan News Reporter “| thought the idea of Kiwanis housing was to provide affordable housing to seniors. [t's uncons- ctonable to put that big of an in- crease in oat one time.” said Sehreck. ‘'Norinally you expect that from slum lords. I believe the Kiwanis should show more com- passion. Its really in everybody's interest that the Kiwanis come out of this not looking like slum lords. But Don Preston, board chair- man of Kiwanis Senior Citizens Homes Ltd. and Kiwanis Care Homes Ltd., said the board will review the rent increase on Sept. RT provide affordable housirig to seniors. It’s unconscionable to put that big of an increase in at one time. 39 — NV-Lonsdale NDP candidate David Schreck buildings. Blainey said the latest rent hike will be the third in the last three years. Monthly rents, he said, went up last year about 7% to around $140; this year's proposed 32% hike, however, will increase mon- thly rents from $144 to $190 for a balcony unit and from $139 to $185 for aunit without a balcony. **This building is 30 years old and these are just bare bachelor suites. They provide a stove, but we have to provide a refrigerator. There's no ventilation in these suites,”* said Blainey. Another tenant, Ray Mare Plourde, said the tenants were told that if they did not like the rent increase, they could move. ‘“*The tenants who five here range ‘n age from 60 to 92. A tot are handicapped and on welfare. These old people are scared,”’ said Plourde. Blainey said he has talked to over 57 people and organizations for help to stop the rent increase. North Vancouver-Lonsdale NDP candidate David Schreck said the provincial government should create a rent review pro- cess. He added that ke does not believe the Kiwanis Senior Citizens Homes Lid. and Kiwanis Care Homes Ltd., the owners of the housing complex, will suffer fi- nancially without the rent in- crease. sree tee REPS ae: REACHING EVERY DOOR ON THE NORTH SH ORE SINCE 1969 10 and will also meet with the te- nants’ association. He said a rent hike is needed to avoid a deficit. “Even if this rent increase is approved it will still be the lowest amount of rent for a similar type of building,”” said Preston. He added that the Kiwanis board was planning to demolish the housing complex because of its dilapidated condition, but was advised by a consultant to put money into renovations instead. Preston said the Kiwanis board has spent nearly $250,000 in the last year on building repairs. “The rents ure our only source of income for those buildings, we don’t get any grants. When we did the renovations, we ran into some unexpected repairs. The copper pipes had to be replaced. “A that money came out of our reserve funds and the rents are the only way we have of building that reserve stock back up.” But Blainey said the renovations consisted of purchasing new carpets and painting the front of the buildings. “That's how they justify the rent increase,”* said Blainey. The rent hike has been approv- ed by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. Preston said the Kiwanis organization provides housing for about 500 seniors on the North Shore. Oftice, Editorial 985-2131 Test drive the Chev Lumina 734 Automotives: 29 Distribution 986-1337 Oisplay Advertising 980-0511 NEWS photo Cindy Goodman Full moon rising THE MOON rises on a clear evening over Seaspan tugs at work in Burrard Iniet.