Support co-op housing in Saskatchewan: Here’s how you can speak up for co-op housing in the upcoming provincial and municipal elections

Published October 15, 2024

On October 28, Saskatchewan votes in the provincial election. Find out how you can speak up for co-op housing and share your co-op story.

In Saskatchewan, 17 per cent of households live in housing that they can’t afford, leaving little else for other essentials. In Saskatoon, rents for two-bedroom units were up 9 per cent in 2023, compared with a year earlier. In Regina, this was nearly 8 per cent. Because housing in the private rental market is becoming so unaffordable, we need to create more co-op housing and support for our existing co-ops.

Photo credit: Elections Saskatchewan

Co-op housing provides secure and affordable homes. It helps Saskatchewan thrive. For the upcoming provincial elections, these are the two things that are needed to build and preserve co-op housing communities:

1. Create new co-op homes, with dedicated funding to build new co-ops and convert existing rental buildings into co-ops
   • By developing new co-op homes, more people will be able to move into secure housing with affordable, predictable housing charges and be part of a strong and inclusive community.
   • By supporting co-ops to buy existing rental housing and converting it into a co-op, tenants will be protected from unpredictable increases to their rents and able to stay in their communities, all while growing the co-op sector.
   • Co-op housing is a practical investment that pays dividends – co-op homes get more affordable over time.
2. Reinstate long-term rental assistance for low-income households living in co-ops

• Co-ops have historically been mixed-income communities. This was because of modest rental assistance provided by the government to low-income households who need help filling the gap between the co-op housing charge and what they can afford.
• For many years, rental assistance was provided by federal funding directly. Then, the federal government transferred funding to the province of Saskatchewan to provide it. But this hasn’t happened.
• The disappearance of rental assistance is putting the mixed-income nature of co-ops at risk. It is hurting low-income families. Co-ops cannot lower their housing charges to make up the difference, otherwise they will be putting the building at risk by deferring maintenance and repair work; this is needed as co-op buildings are aging.

Saskatchewan can support its existing 17 housing co-ops and look to the co-op model to create a more affordable, secure housing system.

Questions to ask your local candidates

1. How will you work to grow the number of housing co-operatives in Saskatchewan?
2. Will you reinstate long-term rental assistance for low-income households living in housing co-ops?

Share your story!

Housing co-ops are making a difference for people in Saskatchewan. CHF Canada wants to help share your story so that candidates understand why it’s important to invest in co-op housing.

Share your stories such as:

• What living in a co-op has meant to you
• Why you want more people to be able to live in a housing co-op
• How your co-op is creating a vibrant and welcoming community
• How you’ve benefited from programs like rental assistance