The Recession Relief Coalition will post information about what the government is doing to alleviate the suffering related to poverty, homelessness, hunger and unemployment across Canada. 

added Feb 27 

Wellesley Institute

Initial observations: Toronto’s 2010 operating budget

cuts or flat-lines funding for housing, homelessness,

social, health programs while police budget rises

February 19, 2010

Affordable housing need is growing in Toronto. The City of Toronto’s affordable housing waiting list was at 71,498 households at the end of 2009 – an all-time record and an increase of 7% over 2008. Toronto was able to house 4,256 households last year, the lowest annual number ever. The average wait for an affordable home in Toronto is 16.8 years – as of 2009.

See the whole report below.

added Feb 27 

Comments

The government does not define Affordable Housing. Affordable for whom? The poorest people in our society who need it most or the middle class who would like lower rents so they can increase the gap between the middle class and the poorest people in Ontario?

On the 3^rd line from the bottom of the first page, the government states, “We know we can improve programs and service delivery to ensure that more Ontarians can access affordable housing. Any meaningful Affordable Housing Program should have the goal of making Affordable Housing available to ALL Ontarians.

The whole document is less than 2 pages and says absolutely nothing about how the government will proceed to accomplish this obscure and limited goal. I wonder if all the time effort and expense involved with these consultations was ever intended to produce any meaningful improvement.

Below are the English and French versions of the government response to the Affordable Housing Consultations

added Feb 24 

Your vote should count. Sign the petition

The Canadian electoral system is lagging far behind other Democracies in assuring its citizens actually have a meaningful voice in how our country is run. Proportional representation would go a long way towards correcting this situation. Voter turn out is historically dismal and a prime reason for this is the fact that we feel that our votes don't really count any way. It's long past time to correct this.

added Feb 23 

Here is a copy of the survey we sent to all Federal parties asking their positions on several important issues 

and a copy of a synopsis of their responses

Only the Conservative Party in it's arrogance ignored these crucial issues.

added Feb 23 

The following pdf files are the responses from the Federal parties to our survey.

Only the Conservative Party in it's arrogance ignored these crucial issues.

added Feb 27 

Campaign 2000

END CHILD POVERTY IN CANADA

Submission to the Standing Committee on

Pre-Budget Hearings

Queen’s Park, Toronto

February 2, 2010

Presented by:           Greg deGroot -Maggetti, Ontario Campaign 2000

                        Theresa Schrader, Voices from the Street                     

Campaign 2000

c/o Family Service Toronto

                                                                                                355 Church St.

                                                                                                Toronto, ON M5B 1Z8

                                                                                                Tel. 416-595-9230x241

                                                                                    jacquiema@familyservicetoronto.org

Campaign 2000 is a national, non-partisan network of 120 national, provincial and community partner organizations committed to working together to end child and family poverty in Canada. 

Ontario Campaign 2000 is a provincial partner with 67 member organizations across the province (members listed in Appendix 1).  www.campaign2000.ca

Pre-Budget Hearings, Queen’s Park, Toronto, February 2, 2010

I-Introduction

Campaign 2000 commends the Ontario government for setting out a Poverty Reduction Strategy with a target to cut child poverty by 25% by 2013, and we applaud all parties for their support of the Poverty Reduction Act passed last May.

We appreciate a number of steps taken over the past year that respond to many of Ontario Campaign 2000 recommendations:  increases to the Ontario Child Benefit, investment of $622 million in affordable housing over 2 years; commitment to phase in full day learning for 4 and 5 year olds; $4.5 million to hire employment standards officers and new legislative protections for temp agency workers; and public consultations to develop a Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy.

The Ontario government bravely signaled its intent to combat poverty in the midst of a full-blown recession.  We call on the government to continue taking leadership to prevent and reduce poverty during these tough economic times.

The latest figures on poverty in Ontario from Statistics Canada are for 2007. They indicate that Ontario’s child poverty rate is 11.7% (Low Income Measure After Tax).    That means almost 1 in every 9 children lived in poverty in 2007.  One –third of them lived in working poor families where at least one parent was working the equivalent of a full time job.

We know that Ontario’s child poverty rate will be higher in 2010 because of the recession.  Now, more than ever, Ontario families need government supports to climb out of poverty. 

Without strong and swift action in the next budget poverty in Ontario will grow deeper and slow down the economic recovery.

II- Recommendations:

We’re calling on the Minister of Finance and his colleagues to move faster and further on poverty reduction by taking the following steps in the spring budget:

Ø  Begin the process to transform social assistance so that it supports people to move out of poverty.

- Introduce a $100 monthly Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance and fully index social assistance rates to inflation.   Having to rely on social assistance is a sentence to poverty.  Despite recent improvements in child benefits a single parent with one young child still lives about $5,660/year below the poverty line.

-Fix social assistance rules that are counter productive; E.g. raise asset limits to $5,000 for singles, and to $10,000 for families.  Having to liquidate assets before being eligible for social assistance traps people in poverty.

Ø  Invest in child care. Designate at least $64 million to save over 7,600 subsidized child care spaces for low income families which are threatened to close, and keep investing to build Ontario’s child care system.

      -Parents cannot look for work, get training or be in the workforce if they cannot get affordable, secure child care.  If the province does not invest at least $64 million in child care in the 2010 budget the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association says that over 7,600 subsidized spaces will be lost, hitting low income parents hardest. 

On February 3 a study from the Centre for Spatial Economics will be released showing the impact this loss would have on the Ontario economy and jobs.

Ø  Make a downpayment on Ontario’s promised Affordable Housing Strategy by introducing a Housing Benefit, a new monthly allowance for all low-income Ontarians who spend more than 30% of their income on rent. 

-Parents cannot look for work if they cannot afford a roof over their heads. According to the last census, 1 in every 5 tenant households in Ontario spends more than 50% of their income on rent.  Similar to Quebec, Ontario should introduce a Housing Benefit which would make existing housing more affordable for tenants. A detailed proposal has been developed and endorsed by the Daily Bread Food Bank, Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario, Ontario Non Profit Housing Association, Greater Toronto Apartment Association, and the Metcalf Foundation.

Ø  Increase the minimum wage to $11/hour in 2011, with indexation.

      -No one working full time, full year should live below the poverty line.

Ø  Increase the monthly Ontario Child Benefit to a maximum of $125/child.

III-Conclusion

 Last year a study by economist Nate Laurie found that poverty costs Ontario $10-$13Billion/year in healthcare costs, lost productivity, lost revenue and criminal justice costs. 

Allowing more than 10% of our population to fall deeper into poverty is a drag on the economy and will slow economic recovery.

During these tough economic times we call on the provincial government to continue investing to prevent and reduce poverty. Raising social assistance rates, the Ontario Child Benefit and minimum wage helps put money in the hands of low income people who have to spend most of their income on basic necessities and who spend locally.  Investments in early learning and child care and training build the foundation for the skilled and educated workforce that Ontario needs to prosper in the future.

Presentation to Standing Committee on Finance & Economic Affairs, Feb 2, 2010

By Theresa Schrader, Voices From the Street and parent activist with Ontario Campaign 2000

   -My name is Theresa Schrader

-I’m a single of parent of a 3 yr old son named Markus.

- Like many parents I’m having a tough time during this economic recession. 

-  I’m a student at George Brown College studying in the Social Service Worker Program and currently my source of income is Ontario Student Assistance Program

-   I have been living in poverty for 20 years now.  I was on social assistance for a few years until I  decided to made this big step towards a career. 

-I realized I need further education to get a decent job and earn a good income – so I’m studying hard and doing very well, in fact I just found out I made the Dean’s List.

-What makes this possible is having subsidized child care for my son, and living in subsidized housing. Without this perfect combination I would not be able to make this journey.

 If the Ontario Government cuts back on child care funding and I lose my subsidized child care spot I will have to drop out of school and go back on social assistance, there is no way that I could afford full fees at my daycare.   This could have effects far beyond the eye can see.  It would perpetuate the cycle of poverty that I am trying so hard to break.

-I know many other parents who like me rely on subsidized child care, who would find themselves in the same position.

-I’m here speaking to you today on behalf of over 7600 parents across the province to say:  please invest in child care. Don’t cut child care subsidies.  It would be disastrous to our plans for our families.  We can’t study without child care, We can’t work withouth childcare. If we’ve lost our jobs in the recession we can’t even look for work without child care.  And the cycle continues.

-Good quality, secure public child care is so important for low income families.  We would not be able to move towards the future without it

Appendix 1 – Ontario Campaign 2000 Partners:

Ontario Social Development Council (Toronto), Interfaith Social Assistance Review Coalition (Waterloo), Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (Toronto), Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (Toronto),  Ontario Association of Social Workers (Toronto), Ontario Association of Children’s Rehabilitation Services (Toronto), Children’s Mental Health Ontario (Toronto), Ontario Public Health Association (Toronto), Ontario Federation of Labour (Toronto), Ontario Public Service Employees Union (Toronto), Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (Toronto), Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (Toronto), Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (Toronto), United Steelworkers of America, District 6 (Toronto), Ontario Association of Family Resource Programs (Toronto), Ontario Association of Food Banks (Toronto), Provincial Council of Women of Ontario (Niagara-on-the-Lake), The Community Social Planning Council (Toronto), Children’s Aid Society of Toronto/Metro Campaign 2000 (Toronto), Family Service Association of Toronto (Toronto),Our Kids Our Future (Toronto), South Asian Family Support Services (Toronto), Community Development Halton (Burlington), Social Planning Council of Peel (Mississauga), Peel Poverty Action Group (Mississauga); Peterborough Social Planning Council (Peterborough), Durham Child Poverty Task Force (Ajax), 905-Area Faith Community Leaders; Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton-Wentworth (Hamilton); Social Planning Council of Ottawa-Carleton (Ottawa),Ottawa-Carleton CPAG (Ottawa), Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa-Carleton (Ottawa); Hastings & Prince Edward Legal Services (Belleville); Southwestern Ontario CPAG (London), Sisters of St. Joseph of the Diocese of  London, Ontario (London), CAPC Niagara Brighter Futures (Niagara); Lakehead Social Planning Council (Thunder Bay),  North Bay Labour Council; Income Security Advocacy Centre (Toronto), Elgin St. Thomas Health Unit (Sudbury), Ontario Association of Interval Transition Housing, Canadian Tamil Women’s Community, Children’s Aid Society of Peel, Legal Assistance of Windsor, Nellies, Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, Toronto Coalition for Better Child Care, Workers Action Centre (Toronto),Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, African Canadian Social Development Council, Social Planning Council of Sudbury, Social Planning Council of Cambridge & North Dumfries, Kingston Lennox,  Frontenac & Addington Children’s Services Steering  Committee, Ontario Public School Boards  Association, Community Development Council Durham, Early Childhood Community Development Centre (St Catharines), The STOP Community Food Centre; Northumberland Coalition Against Poverty; the Help Centre of Northumberland; Northumberland Community Legal Clinic; Family Service Ontario; Interim Place (Mississauga), Sistering, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, Association of Ontario Health Centres.

I missed this in October, so here it is now 

added Dec 4 

Bill 198 to allow Inclusionary Zoning

This act will allow municipalities to create zoning by-laws that required the inclusion of affordable housing in new development projects. It's not enough, but it's a good start.

A great speech in the House of Commons. I particularly support the Canadian Low Income Supplement. There is no excuse for taxing Canadians living in poverty. Copy of speech below.

In September 2008, the federal government announced a five-year, $1.9 billion funding commitment for housing and homelessness through to 2014 and a two-year renewal of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) through to 2011. At that time, the government also committed to engaging provinces, territories and stakeholders on how best to use and allocate federal funding for homelessness beyond 2011.

The federal government is currently doing consultations with respect to homelessness investments between 2011 and 2014. Input is sought on how the current federal approach to addressing homelessness could be improved to better serve Canadians.

Attached, you will find a Consultation Paper that sets out the broad questions that will be examined through the review of federal housing and homelessness investments. The document addresses both housing and homelessness issues.

The Government of Canada will accept e-mail submissions regarding the broad questions identified in the consultation document, at

SPLI-HPS_Consultation2009@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca until October 15, 2009.

A number of groups including the Homelessness Response Alliance organizations and National Housing and Homelessness Network are working to get submissions in.  The Recession Relief Coalition calls for at least a DOUBLING of funding spend on the Homelessness Partnership Initiative (HPI) and H ousing Partnership Strategies (includes funding to rehabilitate housing).  If you have a submission that we can share with others, please email us at ronzig@recession-relief-coalition.org

BILL C-304

An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible

and affordable housing for Canadians

Whereas the provision of and access to

adequate housing is a fundamental human right

according to paragraph 25(1) of the United

Nations Universal Declaration of Human

Rights;

Whereas, in 1976, Canada signed the International

Covenant on Economic, Social and

Cultural Rights, a legally binding treaty committing

Canada to make progress on fully

realizing all economic, social and cultural rights,

including the right to adequate housing;

Whereas the enjoyment of other human

rights, such as those to privacy, to respect for

the home, to freedom of movement, to freedom

from discrimination, to environmental health, to

security of the person, to freedom of association

and to equality before the law, are indivisible

from and indispensable to the realization of the

right to adequate housing;

Whereas Canada’s wealth and national budget

are more than adequate to ensure that every

woman, child and man residing in Canada has

secure, adequate, accessible and affordable

housing as part of a standard of living that will

provide healthy physical, intellectual, emotional,

spiritual and social development and a

good quality of life;

Whereas improved housing conditions are

best achieved through co-operative partnerships

of government and civil society and the meaningful

involvement of local communities;

And whereas the Parliament of Canada

wishes to ensure the establishment of national

goals and programs that seek to improve the

quality of life for all Canadians as a basic right;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the

advice and consent of the Senate and House of

Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

1. This Act may be cited as the Secure,

Adequate, Accessible and Affordable Housing

You can download the complete act in both English and French below

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