Evicted for collecting empties..

[W105]

should collecting empties be considered as income ??


Island senior facing eviction for income raised collecting cans

A Sidney woman has started a petition to help a well-known community member facing eviction.

The petition started by Nicole Bengtsson calls on Beacon Community Services from evicting Zora Hlevnjak, a 76-year-old woman, who has been collecting empty cans for years to supplement her pension. As of Jan. 12, 372 individuals have signed the petition.

Hlevnjak faces eviction from Sidney’s Wakefield Manor, where she has been staying since 2004, because of failure to pay $1,087 for three month’s worth of rent following a rent increase. She had previously paid $524 per month under the terms of provincially subsidized housing, but now faces a monthly bill of $887.



https://www.vancouverislandfreedaily.co ... ting-cans/

[Fancy]

“Every tenant in a subsidized building like Wakefield Manor pays 30 per cent of their income towards rent, which is the affordable standard throughout the province,” he said. “We didn’t raise the rent. She just started to report her proper income.”

Just because she doesn't think it's fair doesn't make her right.

[TylerM4]

should collecting empties be considered as income ??

All income should be considered as income. How is this even a question?

[whatwhat]

The article says she lives in low income housing, where she only has to pay 30% of her income. Her rent increased because her reported income increased as well due to the bottle collecting.

If she is collecting so many bottles that her rent increases $363 then that is a lot of bottles. It must have changed her monthly income significantly. She isn't just collecting a few bottles here and there for pocket change.

If she wants to live in low income housing, she needs to play by the rules. I am sure there are lots of people who would love to take advantage of low income housing, and she is taking a spot from someone while trying to take advantage of the situation.

[Merry]

If she didn’t consider it to be income, why did she report it as such?

[alanjh595]

Just like waiters/waitresses,taxi drivers, etc....... SHOULD/required to be reporting their tips as income on their tax forms, how many do?

What about all those contractors that don't charge/collect/remit the taxes on "cash/under-the-table" income?

How about all those bottle collectors that we see every day with huge bags of refundables hanging off the sides of their shopping carts? Do they declare that income to welfare when they pick up their cheques?

Do those on welfare and selling dope declare their income to EI or welfare? How about those that are stealing and selling other peoples' property as an income "helper"?

YES, she was in "subsidized" housing, the only beef here is that the complex was not getting their share of her bottle return income. Everyone seems to be able to look the other way, so long as they get "their cut".

[W105]

collecting empties is not guaranteed income, what happens if she falls ill and can't collect anymore empties ?? collecting empties isn't a job..

she was silly to even report this, but she said she put the money into her bank account (in fear of fire or theft) so they obviously can ask for bank records..

this is just a poor pensioner who receives $1500 a mth out there dumpster diving to make a few extra dollars to supplement her meager income..

[Fancy]

From what I understand she deposited the money into a bank account. The subsidized housing rules require financial statements be submitted so that would include bank statements.

[Fancy]

this is just a poor pensioner who receives $1500 a mth out there dumpster diving to make a few extra dollars to supplement her meager income..

She's not supplementing her income when she's sending that money overseas.

[mexi cali]

So her income has gone from 1729.00/month to 2927.00. That is an increase in income of 1200.00/month. That is a lot of bottles and cans and is what you would have to accept in order to justify the bump in rent. It would mean that she collects that value in returns each and every month which would be a full time job.

It is also significant under the terms of her agreement. If she was in fact making the additional income, why was she not simply paying the difference? How far back did she go when she decided to claim the additional income? Why has she not explained that the additional money was cumulative over several years and not a regular monthly income?

There is more to this that what we are seeing here.

[Fancy]

The Peninsula News Review has also received comments that question Hlevnjak’s decision to send money to Croatia, while living in subsidized — read taxpayer-financed — housing with the less-than-subtle charge that she is scamming Canadians for the benefit of foreigners.

https://www.vicnews.com/news/sidney-wom ... t-honesty/

Just because she thinks it isn't income isn't a good enough reason nor is claiming to give it all away a good one either.

[alanjh595]

From the link provided:

“Every tenant in a subsidized building like Wakefield Manor pays 30 per cent of their income towards rent, which is the affordable standard throughout the province,” he said. “We didn’t raise the rent. She just started to report her proper income.”

I think this old woman has cut her own throat by trying to do the right thing.

I don't believe that collecting bottles and cans is actually "an income". A 76 year old woman that helps keep that town clean and reduces waste to the landfill, and deposits that money to her bank account to send electronically to her family in Croatia??? Really?

Hlevnjak can stay her in her apartment if she makes up the outstanding rent. “Please understand – it’s not my choice to evict her,” he said. “I don’t want to evict her.

she is aware of the 30-per-cent threshold and the reporting requirement, but does not think she should pay the difference, because she does not think of the money she made by collecting cans as income. Hlevnjak also receives donations of money and food from passersby.

How could a subsidized housing complex calculate the value of food and cash donations as "income"? Does she need to submit 1/3 of the hamburger that a passerby gave her? If you were to get a $1,000 for a birthday present, would you declare that as income?

Isn't part of "income" that it must be from an identifiable source or occupation?

Lesson learned, if you win $20 on a golf game, you must not put it in your bank account, or you will be taxed on it.

[W105]

well if she was a drug addict she would be living even cheaper (supportive housing is only $365 per mth) and she would get tons of stuff for free..from meals, clothing, etc to medical and dental...and maybe drugs if she could qualify..

so think about that TRUE fact when you think a low income senior who dumpster dives and saves money to sponsor her Family back home should be dinged for getting out there everyday hustling recycle $$ ..

[Fancy]

https://www.saanichnews.com/news/sidney ... mpty-cans/

She's hoarding money before depositing it (yes it appears she's got issues) and takes money for food for herself from strangers and sending it away. She's not looking after her best interests at all. Hope she gets the help she needs.

[lesliepaul]

Wow, people getting their in a knot over something as trivial as this and taxes when you have the mega-rich paying all or next to nothing. I only wish I was in a position to "barter" during my working years to be able to save some money our government is all too eager to demand at all costs. They always come after the "middle class" with "guns blazing". What middle class in Canada meant to me was that I supported the wealthy AND the poor...….and basically told you by our government.

All the power to those "robbed" middle class who have "under the table" options.