WINNIPEG — Property management companies are lining up to open their rental units to Syrian refugees.
After sending out an email Wednesday morning asking who would be interested in housing the refugees, the Professional Property Managers Association (PPMA) says around 20 per cent of their membership responded positively.
That translates into at least 50 – 100 rental units within Winnipeg that would be available.
While the interest is definitely there from city landlords to help with the influx of refugees, many are hoping for some clarity from the province on how much financial help they’ll get.
“I know there are a lot of landlords out there who are willing to discount ten to twenty per cent at least for the first year out of the goodness of their hearts but like I said we can’t be expected to be the only members of society who are giving up hundreds if not thousands of dollars to help these people,” said Avrom Charach with the PPMA.
But the province still isn’t sure what kind of rent subsidies will be offered, said immigration minister Erna Braun, “That was one of the issues we talked about with the federal minister in terms of the rates that the federal government has for it. We didn’t get a firm commitment on his part.”
The desire to help with setting the refugees isn’t just limited to large property management companies.
A hotline operated by the Canadian red Cross in Winnipeg has already received hundreds of calls about helping the cause, many of which have been related to housing.
“We have a lot of individuals that are calling who know of places to rent or to own homes and apartments,” said Cailin Hodder, provincial manager of the disaster assistance program.
Minister Braun is still unsure of exactly how many refugees will end up in Manitoba but the first wave, made up of privately sponsored refugees, will land in the new year.
The second wave of government sponsored refugees will be larger and will land in the new year.
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