The difficulties of living in social services housing were highlighted at a meeting of the Hastings County Community and Human Services Committee on Thursday.
A community housing tenant, Robert Shaw, appeared before the committee, calling for tighter enforcement around three issues, smoking, pets and guests.
Shaw complained about people not cleaning up after their pets, said there should be no smoking in the buildings, and indicated that often an extra guest moves into a tenant’s apartment.
In his address to the committee, Shaw said “County policy needs to be amended to include a three-step non-compliance solution involving two notices in writing, and the third a notice of eviction.”
He outlined a pet policy that would have pet owners “immediately remove all waste deposited by the pet.”
Also that “the tenant should be charged so much per dog pile” which would be cleaned up by a property cleaning company if the tenant does not do so.
Shaw said in some instances guests have stayed in units for three to six months and some as soon as the tenant moves in.
Director Erin Rivers tells Quinte News it’s very frustrating and difficult.
She says, “We may have a hearing with the Landlord and Tenant Board but sometimes the time periods are too long for some people.”
Rivers says when it comes to smoking issues her department may follow a Leeds-Grenville County policy.
Rivers indicated this might be tried in a project this fall.
