Hunger Report 2017: The Rising Cost of Housing and its Impact on Hunger in Ontario

IV. Current
Levels <strong>of</strong>
Government
Support
FIGURE 2.7: AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WAITLIST VS GOVERNMENT
COMMITMENTS TO BUILD
Thous<strong>and</strong>s
180
160
140
120
100
ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS HUNGER REPORT <strong>2017</strong>
<strong>The</strong>re is no doubt that both
provincial <strong>and</strong> federal
governments have made
investments in affordable
housing. Currently, the federal
government has allocated $11.2 billion
over the next ten years on a national
housing strategy. 43 While this is a
considerable investment, the details
on how this funding will be invested
still remain unclear. At present, part <strong>of</strong>
the strategy includes a commitment to
building 80,000 new affordable housing
un<strong>its</strong>, <strong>and</strong> homelessness prevention
for 500,000 Canadians. 44 This will
absolutely make a positive impact in
the lives <strong>of</strong> many low-income families;
however, with 171,000 households
on the waitlist in Ontario alone, it is
arguable that this is not yet enough to
properly address the affordable housing
needs <strong>of</strong> Canadians.
Provincially, a number <strong>of</strong> investments
have been made as well. Through the
Investment in Affordable <strong>Housing</strong>
Program (IAH), there is a commitment
to the repair <strong>and</strong> creation <strong>of</strong> 11,000
social housing un<strong>its</strong> between 2014 <strong>and</strong>
2020. 45 <strong>The</strong>re is no doubt that this is a
80
60
40
20
0
Households
on the 2016
Wait List for
Affordable
<strong>Housing</strong>,
Ontario
Affordable
<strong>Housing</strong>
Un<strong>its</strong>, Build
<strong>and</strong> Maintain,
Ontario
(Investment
in Affordable
<strong>Housing</strong>,
2014-2020)
Affordable
<strong>Housing</strong>
Un<strong>its</strong>, All <strong>of</strong>
Canada
(National
<strong>Housing</strong>
Strategy, 10
Years)
step in the right direction; however, it
is estimated that, in order to properly
address housing issues, the province
would actually need to build an
additional 10,000 un<strong>its</strong> every year just
to keep up with dem<strong>and</strong>. 46
Municipal agencies are facing tough
conditions. For example, the Toronto
Community <strong>Housing</strong> Corporation,
Canada’s largest provider <strong>of</strong> social
housing, is facing a $1.73 billion shortfall
for capital repairs, 47 <strong>and</strong> estimates that
by 2023, half <strong>of</strong> their existing stock
will be in “critical” condition without
18