Manitoba property owners, homeowners urged to step up, offer housing to Syrian refugees
Permanent housing needed as Manitoba gears up to take in up to 300 refugees per month
The province is looking for help from private landlords and homeowners to help settle 2000 Syrian refugees expected to arrive in Manitoba this year.
"So we have to continue to reach out. There are many communities that are showing interest. We have to make those connections," Selinger said.
To date the province has welcomed more than 250 Syrian refugees, including some who arrived this week.
Selinger said after recent discussions with the federal government, the province is expecting about 300 refugees per month until the number reaches 2,000.
"We've got the temporary housing right now, we've got about 100 permanent units but as the numbers ramp up we're going to have to continue to find more housing locations for people to settle in," Selinger said.
A spokesperson for the province says not all units discussed with settlement agencies make the list. Units on the list must be "viable options with appropriate consideration for size, number of bedrooms, cost, accessibility, proximity to transportation, services, education."
Avrom Charach of the Professional Property Managers Association of Manitoba believes there are enough suites available for the newcomers.
"From what I hear there's between 150 and 200 suites that have already been allocated or dedicated by our private firms, and there may be more," Charach said.
Charach estimates that about 500 apartment units, including those already allocated, will be needed to house all the refugees.
"2,000 refugees is probably going to be somewhere in the range of 500 apartment units. Don't forget there's a lot of families that are extremely large, nine and 10 people," he said.
"And many [families], the ones that we're placing at this point, are anywhere from two to five people."
Applications coming in fast
Charach said some property managers are working with Manitoba Housing to set up discount rates of between 20 and 30 per cent for the units which typically applies for the length of the lease.
Charach, who's also the head of Kay Four Properties, said he has offered 12 rental suites and the applications from refugees are coming in fast.
"Earlier today we filled four, now we're up to six out of the dozen, that's how quickly this is moving. In the last hour we've had two applications land on our desk."
The province also wants to find homes for Syrian refugees in communities outside Winnipeg, like Altona where five Syrian families have already been settled.
Landlords with three-, four- and five-bedroom suites available should email the province at [email protected]
A hotline number has also been set up for Manitobans who want to help at 1-888-662-3211.