Donna Dittaro, the CAO for the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board, is concerned that skyrocketing insurance premiums could cause financial hardship for local non-profit housing organizations.
Dittaro explained that insurance costs for social housing providers in the district was addressed at last week’s DSSAB meeting.
“Non-profit housing providers have seen a 153 percent increase in premiums [over last year],” said Dittaro. “We’ve been back and forth with the Social Housing Service Corporation. They’re supposed to save money with bulk purchasing.”
She explained that of the six non-profit housing providers in the district, their premiums have increased anywhere between 39 and 288 percent.
The worst rise in premiums was with Morley Municipal Non-Profit Housing, whose premiums have risen 288 percent, from $1,803 in 2002/2003 to $6,995 in 2003/2004.
“To see an increase like that in Morley is ridiculous,” said Dittaro.
Fort Frances Municipal Non-Profit Housing saw a 237 percent jump to $6,836, and Golden Age Manor in Emo saw a rise of 221 percent to $12,217. The Rainy River District Housing Corporation, which included the DSSAB building, saw a rise of 46 percent to $31,447.
She said that the numbers could have been worse if the non-profits hadn’t chosen rates that included higher deductibles for this year.
“They have been encouraged to seek other quotes from a local source,” Dittaro said, adding that if they don’t resolve the problem for next year it “will have a huge impact on their budgets.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
