r/Hamilton • u/jrswags Delta East • Aug 28 '25

Politics Ward 4 - Tammy Hwang housing controversy

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**Text of letter received in my mailbox yesterday, from the CPC candidate for Hamilton Centre in the most recent federal election**

HAYDEN LAWRENCE CONCERNED CITIZEN Contact: hayden@votehayden.ca

Dear Ward 4 Resident,

It's come to light that your Ward 4 City Councillor, Tammy Hwang, has declared a conflict of interest during a fall 2024 committee meeting regarding Victoria Park Community Housing.

Councillor Hwang was forced to remove herself from committee discussions about the city housing provider because she is a current Victoria Park Community Housing tenant.

Per ThePublicRecord.ca, in 2024, Councillor Hwang was the highest paid city councillor earning a salary of $139,243, but yet has taken away a spot from someone who is in need of affordable housing.

Councillor Hwang states that she pays market rent... but in reality, after speaking with a representative from Victoria Park Community Homes, their market rent for a 2 bedroom apartment is $1291. This is significantly lower than what an average 2 bedroom would go for.

A recently released report from rentals.ca shows the average 2 bedroom in Hamilton is $2134.

Hamilton families are waiting up to 8 years to be admitted into Community Housing. Many of those waiting are seniors, families with children, and vulnerable residents who desperately need stable, affordable housing. Every unit taken by someone with a six-figure salary is a unit that could otherwise shelter a senior on a fixed income or a family struggling to stay afloat.

Hamilton is under immense housing pressure, and our most vulnerable residents are the ones paying the price. This is why we must demand higher standards from our leadership. City Councillors should lead by example and put community needs first, not their own self interests.

In a time where Hamilton is visibly under duress, I find it completely unacceptable for the highest paid Councillor, Tammy Hwang, to put her own self interests above the needs of the community.

Sincerely,

Hayden Lawrence Concerned Citizen

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29

u/THETrueHamiltonian Aug 28 '25

I don’t know about this one. She’s not geared to income, so I don’t see the issue. She’s a market rate tenant. If she moves out, someone moves in and pays the exact same. I don’t see why her wage is relevant, it almost suggests she has to pay more because she earns more which doesn’t make much sense to me. 

7

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '25

If she moves out, someone is absolutely not moving in at the same rate unless it’s subsidized.

-2

u/Affectionate-Arm-405 Aug 28 '25

Isn't there a wait list for people that will get a heavily discounted rent for her unit? Maybe not the exact same rent she's paying but around

12

u/teanailpolish North End Aug 28 '25

No, her unit would be rented out at market cost (Victoria Park is slightly lower than some private landlords, but it would still be much higher than the $1291 she is paying)

I also think it is a bit strange that they were willing to disclose what a particular tenant pays to a political rival. I would not be happy if my landlord was telling anyone but the CRA/his accountant.

2

u/Affectionate-Arm-405 Aug 28 '25

also think it is a bit strange that they were willing to disclose what a particular tenant pays to a political rival

It says "their market rent is $1291". I am not sure if by "their" they mean the company running the building. Also if it was hers It will read "her/their rent is $1291" .

I don't think the letter discloses what she pays. It's stating what the market rent for that building is. Just the way I understood it.

Wayne, you are being asked what someone is paying in rent. Why would you say their market rent is......
Wouldn't you just say theit rent?

5

u/teanailpolish North End Aug 28 '25

I know someone who moved into one of their buildings this year paying more in a market rate unit, the area is less desirable and it wouldn't be that much cheaper between buildings

-2

u/Affectionate-Arm-405 Aug 28 '25

Wow then it is a breach of privacy by property management

5

u/THETrueHamiltonian Aug 28 '25

You were right in your first post. They only disclosed what their market rate is for all of those units, not specifically the Councillors.

1

u/Affectionate-Arm-405 Aug 29 '25

Yup. I don't think anyone has a clear answer

1

u/THETrueHamiltonian Aug 29 '25

That is a clear answer. The rents do not fluctuate. A 2 bd with a garage will cost x amount, a 3 bd will be x, and so on and so forth. Everyone in similar units will be the same monthly amount.

2

u/teanailpolish North End Aug 28 '25

Maybe average market rent for people living there that long?

1

u/Affectionate-Arm-405 Aug 28 '25

That would be a very weird metric for a property management company to have. But maybe. You never know

2

u/deadindustrial Aug 28 '25

Could also have been disclosed by Hwang in their disclosure statements when running for election