Media Advisory
(Wednesday, October 27/04)--
Contrary to statements by an anti-poverty activist group, Halifax
Regional Municipality has no knowledge of seven rooming houses that
the group claims HRM plans to shutdown and order tenants to vacate
as a result of minimum housing standards violations.
Capp Larsen, a spokesperson for the Halifax Coalition Against Poverty,
is quoted in The Chronicle-Herald today as saying “Seven more
rooming houses are slated to be condemned because of this by-law
(M-100) and the tenants have been evicted through no fault of their
own.”
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency carries out inspections under
the provincial Fire Safety Act and By-law M-100 respecting minimum
housing standards. Inspections regarding alleged violations are
complaint driven, and HRM prioritizes its inspection roster, based
on the seriousness of the alleged violations.
Although HRM does not have responsibility for housing matters, it
has been encouraging both the federal and provincial governments
to construct more affordable housing under their various cost-sharing
programs.
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John O’Brien
Corporate Communications Officer
(902) 490-6531
