Messages from Allies

A message from Right to Housing

Right to Housing
Housing for all is a human right.

Winnipeg, MB September 26, 2008

Social Housing: the Key to Ending Homelessness

We need a Federal Government committed to housing low income Canadians

Canada has signed United Nations agreements to ensure adequate housing as a basic human right that must be available to all. Over the past decade the commitment by the Federal Government to put this human right to housing into practice has been significantly eroded. Many Canadians face impossible obstacles as they try to house themselves.

Don't be fooled. Recently the Federal Government announced a five year commitment to continue funding their existing housing programs (the Affordable Housing Initiative, Homelessness Partnering Strategy, and Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program). Welcome as this announcement is, these programs have not created nearly enough new housing units. Ironically, existing policies that provide money to improve and repair existing neighbourhoods raise the cost of housing, resulting in the displacement of the poor and the creation of homelessness. Such programs must also provide social housing (where rent is geared to income) for those who are being displaced.

The Need

Social housing is not sufficiently valued by government and has been allowed to deteriorate and lag far behind the need. In 1994 the federal government stopped funding new social housing construction. Since then federal housing programs have been short-term and underfunded, and have often created or maintained housing that is not accessible to those who need it the most.

As housing costs increase and income and welfare benefits stagnate, the housing crisis and need for social housing grows.

People are forced to spend food money on rent, making personal debt, panhandling and food banks sad necessities for survival.

Aboriginal housing agencies have waiting lists with thousands of families and individuals on and off reserve. Canada is in violation of its treaty obligations to house First Nations Peoples.

Housing for new Canadians, seniors in poverty, and people with physical or mental disabilities who have special housing needs is grossly insufficient.

The Solution

Social Housing is a key to Make Poverty History in Canada

1. Long term funding for a national housing strategy

Re-establish the Federal Government and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) as leaders in housing Canadians by committing to the 30,000 social housing units (rent geared to income) per year required to meet the need, in cooperation with the provinces, cities and nonprofit sector.1

Set targets and strategies specific to the unique needs of Aboriginal peoples on and off reserve, new Canadians, seniors and people with disabilities.

2. Stop paying down the deficit on the backs of the homeless

Redirect CMHC’s $4.6 billion surplus from reducing the national deficit to reinvesting it in the capital costs of new social housing.

CMHC must continue to pay operating and rent subsidy costs after mortgages on existing social housing units are paid off.

3. Use the empty houses on the Kapyong military base

The empty Kapyong base houses along Kenaston Boulevard should be used as transitional housing for new Canadians and Aboriginal people new to the city.

It has cost taxpayers $1.5 million per year for the last four years to keep 120 houses empty and heated. Use them to house people on housing waiting lists!

About Right to Housing

Right to Housing is a Winnipeg-based coalition that brings together 30 organizations and over 120 individuals to address the chronic need for social housing, where rent is geared to income.

Coalition supporters work together to promote, advocate and lobby for safe, quality and social housing and housing policy solutions on a local, provincial and national level as part of a comprehensive strategy to eliminate poverty.

Right to Housing meets regularly. We are committed to achieving our goals by working cooperatively, respectfully and inclusively. Contact us if you would like more information, to attend a coalition meeting, or to support Right to Housing.

www.righttohousing.ca
info@righttohousing.ca

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1“Addressing core need starts with adding 30,000 new affordable homes annually”. Canadian Housing and Rehabilitation Association, Federal Election Tool Kit.