In a time of inflation and rising rents, the cost of housing has forced more people in our community into homelessness. Deeply affordable housing is badly needed.
Halifax Councillor Waye Mason has expressed that in this time of likely global housing price collapse, high interest rates, and recession we are in need of the government to help preserve our labour force by funding affordable housing construction. His concerns have been expressed in a letter to Nova Scotia Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, John Lohr.
Finally and most importantly, you are responsible for affordable housing construction in Nova Scotia. In the election, Premier Houston promised to deliver the Affordable Housing Commission report. That report talks extensively about the need for social or below-market housing. I say again to you Minister, the market will not produce below-market housing.
You need to have a massive plan to build affordable housing, and you needed it a year ago. With the coming global housing price collapse, high-interest rates and recession, there has never been a better time for the government to help preserve our labour force by funding affordable housing construction. (Mason, 2022)
ACORN Canada, an independent national organization of low and moderate income people with 160,000+ members in 20+ neighbourhood chapters across 9 cities, advocates to make housing a right in Canada.
Housing is a Right!
The Federal Government should enact legislation that clearly establishes the right to secure, adequate and affordable housing:
Affordability:
Ensure that all people pay less than 30% of household income on housing, without risk of eviction.
Multi-jurisdictional leadership from federal government:
Our current housing challenge requires responsibility and action from all levels, bringing to bear the collective set of policy and financial tools at our disposal. This will require leadership at the federal level and a new set of arrangements between federal, provincial, territorial, municipal and First Nations governments.
Full rent control by all provinces.
Federal Government to support municipal implementation of mandatory inclusive zoning in high pressure development.
Minimum standards of maintenance:
It is important that the policy environment encourages re-investment in substandard housing in a way that preserves quality while maintaining affordability. Energy retrofits are win-win, as energy efficiency equals lower costs. This cost reduction needs strong policies to ensure the savings are being passed on to the tenants.
We need the federal government to implement a federal minimum standard of housing, covering the livability of housing for many low-income families across the country. It should include basic standards of maintenance, health standards related to mold and pests, and a minimum enforcement regime for any level of government responsible for housing conditions. Included in this should be support for landlord licensing policies at municipal or provincial levels to enforce the standards created at the federal level. (Gaga & Cooper, 2022)
Nova Scotia Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, John Lohr, announced that the Province provided a low-interest $5.6-million mortgage to the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia to help purchase five existing rental properties. The investment will prevent the potential loss of 295 existing affordable housing units across Halifax Regional Municipality.
“We heard about some of the challenges non-profits face when they see an opportunity to invest in affordable housing, and this new lending program will help preserve and increase affordable housing stock for people and families in need,” said Minister Lohr. “We have seen rental properties purchased by investors and heard the stories of rents being increased out of reach for existing tenants. This program not only prevents further gentrification and loss of affordable housing but also ensures tenants can continue to live in their homes.” (New Lending Program Supports Affordable Housing, 2022)
The challenge to reduce the suffering of the homeless in our community requires action that creates homes for people in the most expeditious way.
Source: https://images.rentals.ca/images/image4.width-800.pngThe market is not likely to be able to provide units quickly enough that are deeply affordable.
References
Gaga, L., & Cooper, B. (2022, January 17). ACORN’s National Housing Demands. ACORN Canada Housing. Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://acorncanada.org/housing/
Mason, W. (2022, November 15). Correspondence from Councillor Mason to Minister Lohr Regarding Housing. Waye Mason, Councillor. Retrieved November 15, 2022, from https://wayemason.ca/2022/11/15/correspondence-from-councillor-mason-to-minister-lohr-regarding-housing/
New Lending Program Supports Affordable Housing. (2022, July 13). Government of Nova Scotia. Retrieved November 16, 2022, from https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20220713002
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