Don’t help the homeless, Moncton landlord tells tenants

Residents of three apartment buildings in Moncton, NB, have been told they are not allowed to help any homeless people they might come into contact with on the property because their landlord claims they would choose to stay on the street.

A lease for the three buildings on Savoie Drive states that it is “strictly forbidden to feed, give money, give alcohol, cigarettes or any kind of drugs or anything else” to anyone “walking around the property.” .

Helping them “can become a problem,” says A&A Property Management’s 15-page “welcome letter.”

“Please remember that they are all being provided with food and a place to sleep by the government and you shouldn’t feel bad if they have decided to flout their curfew and are staying on the streets voluntarily,” the statement said communication received from CBC News.

She urges renters to contact Moncton City Hall to find out how to help the homeless “off the premises.”

Mike Randall, co-chair of the Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee, said the rental document shows a lack of awareness of homelessness. (Maeve McFadden/CBC)

Mike Randall, co-chair of the Greater Moncton Homelessness Steering Committee, said the document shows a lack of awareness of what drives homelessness.

The claim that “all” the homeless on the street chose to be there is false, he said.

“I find it very disheartening that people put that kind of language in leases and other things,” he said.

“I would strongly encourage them to maybe better understand all aspects of homelessness and maybe make their decision after that.”

A Moncton real estate agent listed as a director of the company that owns the properties declined a request for an interview from CBC News.

The director doesn’t answer questions

Art Dadson is a real estate agent and co-owner of A&A Real Estate Investors, which encourages investors to put money into owning real estate.

“We offer a better return on your money than any bank investment or government plan,” says A&A’s website.

In an email, Dadson said he spoke to another media organization “since they were the first to contact me.” He did not respond to further emails and phone calls.

Randall, who has been appointed to the area’s homelessness committee to represent business owners in Moncton, said they had legitimate concerns that needed to be addressed.

The “growing and challenging problem” of homelessness has created “downtown security challenges,” including crime and vagrancy, he acknowledged.

But the suggestion that “all” homeless people have the option of state-funded assistance and choose to stay on the streets shows that more understanding is needed, he said.

Various reasons for homelessness

Randall said many people are on the streets because of rent evictions, job losses or mental health issues.

“It’s disappointing that one of our business owners has taken this perspective on homelessness and our vulnerable population, but I don’t ignore their frustration,” he said.

Jill Green, the Minister for Housing, did not confirm an interview request from CBC. (Stephen MacGillivray for the New Brunswick Legislature)

Housing Secretary Jill Green did not confirm an interview request, but government spokesman Bruce Macfarlane said provincial law does not prohibit this type of restriction in the Moncton lease.

“The matter you are asking about is not enforceable under the Residential Tenancy Act,” he said.

As for the document’s claim that people on the street chose to be there, Randall said four shelters in Moncton were “bursting at the seams” and taking in more people than usual during the recent extreme cold, he said .

“Yes, everyone comes to the table, the province, the city and others, but there is not enough,” he said.

“What I would encourage everyone to do is to become more informed and aware and maybe better understand that all of the homeless people in our community are not criminals, they are not all drug addicts and drug dealers.”

Source