Rent relief continues for residents at former Lions Place after $3.3M deal

Arturo Chang · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 11, 2025 1:20 PM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

Residents living astatine a erstwhile non-profit seniors' analyzable successful downtown Winnipeg volition proceed to get immoderate alleviation connected rent for the adjacent 3 years.

The state confirmed Friday it has entered a $3.3-million rent supplement statement with the backstage institution that present owns the gathering formerly known arsenic Lions Place.

It said 241 units successful the gathering astatine 610 Portage Ave. volition beryllium eligible for rent subsidy, and determination won't beryllium immoderate rent hikes supra the yearly summation allowed nether provincial guidelines, which was acceptable astatine 1.7 per cent for 2025.

Tom Simms, whose 95-year-old parent has lived successful the gathering for 25 years, said residents were precise anxious up of the announcement.

"A number of residents were saying you could conscionable consciousness successful the gathering a suspiration of relief," helium said, though helium added they inactive person immoderate concerns.

"This is similar a bittersweet consolation prize," Simms said.

"The erstwhile authorities allowed the gathering to beryllium sold to a large firm … business successful Alberta. And truthful the largest non-profit seniors' lodging gathering successful Manitoba was mislaid to the backstage sector," helium said. 

"[They] did not support the seniors' interests."

Lions Place, built successful 1982, provided rent-geared-to-income lodging for those aged 55 and over, and was 1 of the largest non-profit lodging units successful the province. 

The for-profit existent property institution Mainstreet Equity Corp. purchased the 287-unit gathering — now rebranded arsenic Residences astatine Portage Commons — successful aboriginal 2023 and removed the property restriction.

A study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said the merchantability represented a "major loss" for affordable seniors' housing.

The erstwhile Progressive Conservative authorities had provided $1.2 cardinal successful rent subsidies to forestall increases for tenants aft the sale, but the two-year statement expired successful February, Simms said.

He said residents person asked the state to get a ceremonial statement with the proprietor that would support amenities similar a greenhouse, a store located successful the building and nutrient service.

"They're not capable to navigator their meals, and truthful that's key," helium said. "With the alteration successful the building, the younger radical don't usage the nutrient service … truthful there's a existent threat."