A greater number of Hamilton tenants will receive financial help to buy an air conditioner this year compared to last — ahead of what’s expected to be another hot and humid summer.
The city will expand a grant program to provide $350 subsidies for low-income renters who have severe medical conditions likely to worsen in the heat.
Ontario Works already provides AC grants to about 50 Hamilton residents, says a staff report. The city’s new contribution of $52,500 will expand the program to support a total of 200 people.
The majority of councillors and the mayor voted in favour of the temporary program at a board of health meeting on Monday. A final vote will take place at the next council meeting.
The expansion came about after Coun. Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2) asked staff earlier this spring to look at expanding AC grants to help tenants cope with heat waves. The expansion is expected to run until council moves forward with a maximum temperature bylaw, likely next year.
“This is certainly not perfect by any means,” Kroetsch said. “But I do think in the extreme short-term … when we get a little solution like this we should try doing it. I think it will help some people. I think that’s an admirable goal.”
The funding came from the city’s climate-change reserve.
Combating extreme heat this summer
During heat waves, hot air can become trapped indoors, pushing temperatures up to “harmful” levels and can exacerbate people’s existing health conditions, said the staff report.
After an exceptionally mild winter, extended heat waves are expected to hit southern Ontario this summer, according to a recent Weather Network report.
“The heat will build through July and August and linger into September,” the report says.
Last year, Ontario Works received 94 households requesting the air conditioning grant to help with illnesses such as asthma, emphysema, heart disease, mental health conditions and cancer, staff said. The social assistance program approved 58 of these households.
The board of health requested grant recipients provide documentation that the money was used for air conditioners, and for staff to provide an analysis of how successful the program was by the end of the year.
Coun. John-Paul Danko (Ward 8) was the only councillor who voted against the program. He called it an example of “social justice programs to hand out cheques to people.”
“It makes our job of passing responsible budgets in the next two budget cycles that much more difficult,” he said.
Matt Francis and Brad Clark were absent on Monday and therefore didn’t vote.
Council will consider a report later this month about how the maximum temperature bylaw would work.
Expected to be the first of its kind in Canada, it would require landlords keep unit temperatures below 26 C by installing central AC in buildings or by ensuring residents have access to window units.