Taking Action on HousingAction Housing is an importantorganization that provides theirservices to many of the mostvulnerable in our community. Basedin Vanier, they have a satelliteoffice in Orléans at the Orléans-Cumberland Community HealthCentre.Executive Director Marie-JoseeHoule states directly and with deepcompassion, “There’s a housingcrisis in Ottawa. Many people live inprecarious housing. It’s a complexissue and there are many factorsaffecting tenancy. Our mandateis to prevent people from losingtheir homes. We offer this servicefree of charge and in completeconfidentiality.”This issue is flying below theradar, especially in Orléans, wherea second food bank was recentlyopened to deal with the ever-growingcrisis. While Orléans maintains itsappearance as a relatively affluentcommunity, many people are hangingonto their mortgages with a thread.One of the problems is the lack ofdiversity of housing in Orleans. Thereare, of course, many single detachedhomes, but there are not enoughrental accommodations of differentsizes. Families and individualswould like to stay in their communitybut are often forced out becausethey need to be closer to medicalcare and social services. In rentalhousing, this is often compoundedwith tenants and landlords alikenot knowing their rights andresponsibilities.Action Housing provides support byaiding in negotiations with landlords,helping with subsidy applications,providing legal support whenproperty standards are not met andtenancy rights are not respected, andproviding tools when looking for safeand affordable accommodation.A housing crisis, in turn, becomesan economic crisis. The low vacancyrate in Ottawa drives up the price ofrental accommodations available onthe market. According to the Allianceto End Homeless Ottawa 2018report, 42% of Ottawa householdsare spending over 30% of theirincome on rent and utilizes, and areconsidered to be living below thepoverty line. The same report statesthat 20% of Ottawa households arespending over 50% of their incomeon rent and utilities, forcing them toeat at the food banks and to makeother difficult sacrifices just to keepa roof over their heads. Meanwhile,the prices keep increasing.The team at Action Housing isworking in coalition with otherlike-minded organizations and incooperation with the councilorsat City Hall. They need your helpand accept donations – whichare especially important at thistime of year – to help them fulfilltheir mission: Action Housing is acharitable organization devoted tohelping and providing the necessarytools to low- and moderate-incomeindividuals and families in Ottawa toaccess and maintain safe, adequateand affordable housing.That’s a goal we can all get behind.• 12,163 on wait list in Ottawafor affordable housing as ofDecember 31, 2018• The wait for subsidized housingis 12 – 20 years depending onlocation and unit size• Rental cost for a 1 bedroomapartment that is available onthe market in October 2019 is,on average, $1,490, an increaseof 18% in the past year alone• In 2017, 42% of Ottawahouseholds spent over 30% oftheir income on rent and utilities• In 2017, 20% of Ottawahouseholds spent over 50% oftheir income on rent and utilities• In 2020, landlords will beallowed to raise the rent of insitu tenants by 2.2%• In 2019, people receiving socialassistance received an increaseof 1%. There is no projection foran increase for 2020• In 2018, the minimum wage inOntario was increased to $14per hour, a rate which is lockeduntil September 2020• If working minimum wage, aperson would have to work 106hours per month just to affordthe rent for a one-bedroom unit,and nothing else (such as foodand clothing)10 the beat le rythme ỳ
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