(Ottawa, May 28, 2008) -- The Foundations for a Nation report released by the Liberal Urban Communities Caucus earlier today with recommendations to Liberal leader, Stéphane Dion, directly mirrors what the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association has been saying for years: Canada is experiencing an affordable housing crisis.
The Caucus met with over 100 individuals representing provincial and municipal leaders and stakeholders from across Canada and it found that the need for affordable housing is one of the greatest challenges in all Canadian cities and communities.
Sharon Chisholm, the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association´s executive director, met with the Liberal Urban Communities Caucus in February of this year and made some strong recommendations to the group. “The federal government must be the leader in addressing housing needs. They can put in place a framework for participation by other governments and community groups,” advised Chisholm.
CHRA has long-argued that housing is the basis for a healthy and productive life and the Caucus found the same. “Traditionally those trying to help people with multiple problems started by helping them get ‘clean´ first. But recent research recommends an inverse approach that starts with housing. The new perspective suggests that people are more likely to address their problems if they first have a secure place to live,” states the report.
The paper goes on to say that while housing solutions are expensive, the cost is much less than what is currently spent on health care, welfare and social assistance, and policing as a result of a lack of affordable and adequate housing. Building on CHRA´s messages, the report also states that developing and sustaining a sufficient amount of affordable housing is in the best interest of all Canadians as providing people with a stable place to live helps them better contribute to society. This will help create a skilled workforce, attract investment and, therefore, fuel the economy.
“Canada´s housing programs renewed and rebuilt the St. Lawrence Market, the Saint John Waterfront and Granville Island using housing investment as the main driver,” says Chisholm. “These neighbourhoods evoke lively, successful places for people to live now. Not only do they support competitive economies, they do so while providing communities with integrated incomes and mixed uses,” she adds.
According to the report, individuals from all over the country repeatedly told the Caucus the federal government must play an active role in housing again. As a result, the Caucus recommends the Liberal government support a National Housing Strategy with input and collaboration from all levels of government, with the federal government bearing most of the financial burden, which was one of Chisholm´s recommendations.
The federal government began to withdraw from housing in the early 90s with total government housing spending peaking at $4.1 billion in 1993. Federal and provincial government funding will decline sharply in coming years as social housing mortgages are paid out. CHRA and its partner organizations across the country argue that these funds should be reinvested in housing. The Caucus agrees as they recommend the federal government maintain its current level of housing investment of $2 billion.
While this report merely offers Dion suggestions as to what should appear in the next Liberal platform, Chisholm is confident that this is a step in the right direction: “We are facing a growing crisis in the country. Federally supported housing programs will end in 2009 unless they receive new funding. Small stop and start programs will not solve the crisis and build better communities. We need to hear from Mr. Dion that housing investment is a priority activity and not further tax cuts. His voice should join those of provincial and territorial housing ministers to call on the federal government to put a long-term housing investment framework in place.”
Visit www.chra-achru.ca for more information about the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association.
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For more Information:
Lori Tarbett
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Housing and Renewal Association
613-594-3007 ext. 31
ltarbett@chra-achru.ca
Sharon Chisholm
Executive Director
Canadian Housing and Renewal Association
613-866-9611