This senior's rent increased by 17% this year. Now, she's looking for answers

When Yvonne Guy came home from work one day in late September, she noticed a letter had been slipped under the door while she was away. 

It informed her that her rent was to increase by 17 per cent in the new year, and such a move was allowed as non-profit housing corporations are partially exempt from the law that limits rent increases in Ontario.

"It was a shock," said Guy.

Now, she pays $125 more per month for her one-bedroom unit at Place Champlain non-profit housing corporation for seniors in Azilda. 

Guy said it's tricky to absorb the increase as she and many of her neighbours rely on a limited Old Age Security pension to get by. 

Looking at her finances, she's not sure how she'll manage it. 

"It's not that bad yet, but in March, I don't think I'll be able to pay the rent," she said, adding she works two hours a day despite being well past the age of retirement. 

What justifies such an increase?

Guy said it would be an easier pill to swallow if she understood why the increase was necessary, but added she and other tenants didn't get the answers they were seeking  from those who manage the building over the past few months.

"They just told us they had to increase the rent because things are going up and there's a lot of work to be done here," she said. 

In the letter warning tenants of the increase, the president of the board of directors, Raymond Fournier, explained  they are expecting municipal funding "to be extremely reduced" when their agreement with the City of Greater Sudbury is renegotiated in 2026. 

But the city's manager of housing services, Cindi Briscoe, said that's a premature conclusion. 

"I'm not quite sure where that statement is coming from because we haven't even begun the negotiations," she said. 

Briscoe added the city does not own, manage or operate the building. Rather, they subsidize the rents of about half of the tenants who have applied for geared-to-income housing. 

She said the city has encouraged Place Champlain's board many times to meet with the tenants and be transparent about the building's finances. 

"It's unfortunate when individuals choose not to communicate." 

Briscoe added the seniors at Place Champlain who can't cope with the rent increase can apply to join the city's geared-to-income housing subsidy program. 

There is a wait-list to access this kind of support, but she said the board of directors could help tenants jump the queue so they can hold on to their apartments. 

In the meantime, Guy said she and many in the building worry that, without answers from the board, they could face another increase next year.

Fournier declined an interview request from CBC News.