April 16, 2010 - Glebe Report

18 Glebe Report April 16, 2010
MP’S REPORT
Housing crisis continues
MP
Paul
Dewar
Affordable housing has long been
a major issue in Ottawa. The report
by the Alliance to End Homelessness
offers a sobering picture of the
housing crisis that exists in Ottawa.
Last year 7,445 individuals stayed
in emergency shelters and more than
1,300 of them were children under
the age of 16. The average length
of stay in Ottawa shelters has risen
to 57 days, with families staying an
average of 67 days.
The report also highlights the shortage
of affordable housing (only 88
new affordable units were built last
year, yet the housing waiting list has
increased to more than 10,000) and
that those apartments that are available
for rent in Ottawa have seen
average costs increase. But, the crisis
in housing is more than just people
needing emergency shelter. Across
the country, Canadians are having a
harder time affording their homes.
A recent Conference Board of Canada
report revealed that 20 percent of
Canadians are struggling to keep up
with the costs of owning a home. As
a result “about one-fifth of Canadian
households do not have the resources
to afford both good-quality homes
and other health-enhancing expenditures,
such as nutritious food or access
to recreational activities.”
A key social determinant of health,
affordable housing can have an impact
and benefits beyond the well-being
of the individual person. People
who have access to affordable housing,
especially seniors and those on
a fixed income, won’t need to decide
between paying rent and paying
their bills or purchasing medicines.
Families will be able to ensure that
their children have nutritious food
and a safe environment to live. And
national productivity increases when
people are able to meet their basic
needs (shelter, clean water, food,
etc). Furthermore, research shows
that neighbourhoods that are home to
supportive housing, such as Cornerstone
or the Shepherds of Good
Hope, often see an increase in property
value and a decrease in criminal
activity.
Canada is the only major industrialized
country that does not have
a national housing policy, but we are
hoping to change that. My NDP colleague
Libby Davis has introduced a
bill that will ensure secure, adequate,
accessible and affordable housing
for all Canadians. Libby has my full
support, and the support of all New
Democrats. We call on the Harper
government to throw their support
behind a plan that will benefit Canadians
from coast to coast to coast.
Ending homelessness will take the
combined efforts of federal, provincial
and municipal governments.
I challenge all elected officials to
make affordable housing a priority in
Ottawa and across Canada.