When Parliament recessed earlier this month Bill C-304 for a National Affordable Housing Strategy had made impressive progress, having passed second reading, but still wasn't law.  The Bill would require the government to consult with the provinces and establish a national housing program. 

ACORN Canada members across the country are excited by this progress but frustrated by the delays and Parliamentary gridlock preventing it from becoming law.  Since the Federal Government's decision in 1996 to remove CHMC from the process of building affordable housing, Canadians have been without a meaningful national housing plan. 

On July 8th, ACORN members and supporters are planning action in a number of cities across Canada to build support for this important piece of legislation.

For details on the Toronto action click here

For details on the Ottawa action click here

For details on the Metro Vancouver action click here

For details on the Hamilton action click here

 

ACORN members from across Ottawa will be holding a press event at City Hall displaying a clothesline of work orders that remain outstanding in Ottawa Community Housing.  ACORN members will be asking that the city come with them to the province to upload public housing costs.  ACORN members are tired of being “hung out to dry” given the state of disrepair in OCH.

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Erin Albright, an ACORN member, feels “we deserve housing that meets minimum standards, unfortunately, OCH and our city councilors tell us that it will take approximately $600 million dollars to bring our homes up to that standard.” ACORN members like Erin have

Read more: Ottawa ACORN to the Province: Don't Hang us out to Dry

Yesterday the Government of Ontario released their budget for the coming fiscal year.  

The budget contains a number of tax changes, spending programs and direct payments to Ontarians, but ACORN would like to highlight investment in one particular area; Affordable Housing.

In the lead up to the federal budget ACORN, along with our allies, ran an energetic campaign urging the federal government to use their stimulus spending to build and repair Canada’s affordable housing stock. 

While the federal government opted to provide rebates to consumers who re-pave their driveway or build a new deck at their cottage, it appears Queen’s Park got the message.

The budget is calling for the renovation of 50,000 existing social housing units and the construction of 45,000 new affordable housing units. 

Two further points around this issue are also encouraging; first, the money provided has a two year life span, helping create a sense of urgency around affordable housing that had been lacking in recent years.  As well, Finance Minister Duncan told the CBC that in some cases municipalities may not be required to provide matching funds to access the money.

The Federal Government is announcing a budget and stimulus package on January 27th.

The time to act is now.

ACORN is calling for the budget / stimulus package to include $1.8 Billion for two housing initiatives. First, a national affordable housing strategy to build new affordable housing, and secondly a national fund to provide resources to Provinces and Municipalities to repair their existing social housing stock (as called for in the CCPA AFB, 2009).

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This will accomplish three key goals: Creating new living wage jobs to stimulate the economy, improving the quality of the existing social housing infrastructure and building much needed new affordable housing.

Currently, as many as 1.5 million Canadians are experiencing core housing need, meaning that they are under-housed or face an unsustainable financial burden to maintain their current housing situation (CMHC).