The Auditor General of Alberta released a report summarizing the findings of a review on processes to assess and manage the condition of affordable housing in Alberta.
On November 18, 2024, the Auditor General released a report regarding Alberta Seniors, Community and Social Services (SCSS). The audit found that SCSS does not have effective processes to assess and manage the condition of its provincially owned affordable housing facilities. Further, SCSS does not have:
- Current information on the condition of its 2,800 housing facilities valued at over $2.3 billion
- A maintenance strategy to guide third parties who operate the facilities on behalf of the department
- Supporting methodology to determine how it prioritizes maintenance projects requested by the facility operators
- Performance measures to assess the overall state of housing conditions
The Auditor General made three recommendations to SCSS to maintain facility condition information, improve oversight processes, and implement performance measures.
The RMA has been advocating for Resolution 15-23S: Capital Funding Support for Housing Management Bodies (HMBs), which calls for the Government of Alberta to increase funding to HMBs to alleviate the affordability crisis and provide funding for capital upkeep or replacement needed to sustain supportive living at seniors’ lodges. The report confirms many of the issues identified in the resolution related to the need for enhanced provincial investment in capital costs linked to affordable housing. The RMA will keep members posted on developments regarding this resolution and any actions that come from this report.
Kallie Wischoff
Policy Advisor
825.319.2245
kallie@RMAlberta.com
Wyatt Skovron
General Manager of Policy & Advocacy
780.955.4096
wyatt@RMAlberta.com