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HOUSING AGAIN - Bulletin Number 14
June 20, 2000
Sender: owner-housingagain-l@list.web.net
Precedence: bulk

A twice monthly electronic bulletin published on what people are doing
to put housing back on the public agenda in Ontario, across Canada and
around the world. Our web site is http://www.housingagain.web.net

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In this bulletin
1. Toronto Board of Trade advocates affordable housing
2. Provincial housing downloading stalled
3. Visit our web site
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1. Toronto Board of Trade advocates affordable housing

The Toronto Board of Trade deserves high praise for entering the
on-going affordable housing debate. While cynics might say they're only
in it for the money, the Board's twelve page policy statement "Building
Solutions to Homelessness: A Business Perspective on Homelessness and
Toronto's Housing Crisis" presents a cogent, compelling description of
the situation and a powerful set of recommendations.

"Building Solutions to Homelessness" is the result of the Toronto
Board's Quality of Life Task Force launched over a year ago. Their
'snapshot' of the homelessness crisis may not be news for those
involved, but for many readers of the Board's publications, both the
source and the carefully documented nature of the report may open the
eyes of those who have been unaware or unable to understand the true
magnitude and implications of the lack of affordable housing.

Highlighting this report (posted in entirety on the HousingAgain
website) are seven recommendations:

1. Government programs to assist the homeless must address both the
direct and underlying systemic causes of homelessness and focus on  the
specific needs of the individuals and families they seek to help.

2. Governments must recognize and act on their responsibility to address
homelessness and the shortage of affordable housing. Responsibility for
housing should not be downloaded to municipalities.

3. The federal government, working closely with provincial and municipal
governments, social agencies, and the business community must
immediately develop a comprehensive and co-ordinated national housing
policy to address homelessness and the shortage of affordable housing.

4. Governments must create a tax and regulatory environment which
promotes the building of new affordable housing by:
            *waiving municipal fees and charges on new rental housing 
production;
            *waiving the PST and GST on new rental housing;
            *restoring the federal tax treatment of rental housing to
pre- 1971 levels;
            *equalizing property taxes between rental and ownership
housing; and
            *reducing financial costs for new affordable housing.

5. Public-private partnerships must be leveraged to increase affordable housing.

6. The provincial government must investigate the feasibility of
expanding its rent supplement programme to assist individuals and
families who are at risk of becoming homeless.

7. Toronto area businesses should continue to work with and expand their
contributions to community outreach projects that help the homeless or
those at risk of becoming homeless.

The Board of Trade is well aware of what it is doing. "It is not often
that we wade into high profile social issues", the report states, "But
we take seriously our mission to build a better community through
business leadership - and that includes all aspects of the community."

What's more, the Board of Trade means business. Politicians should take
heed of the following initiatives listed as "Activities Going Forward:"

    1. Continue advocacy efforts at all levels of government.

    2. Raise awareness of the business community's existing initiatives
and help co-ordinate these efforts, while promoting new co-operative
business ventures.

    3. Bring together the different levels of government and an alliance
of stakeholders to initiate the development of a national housing policy.

    4. Promote and develop links between business, non-governmental
organizations, such as Goodwill, and government agencies. These links
might include, for example, creating or co-ordinating training and
employment opportunities through Goodwill's programs in conjunction with
key corporate partners.

The Toronto Board is ahead of its colleagues in other cities. In Ottawa,
Gail Logan of the Board of Trade said, "Nothing's on the agenda at the
moment. Maybe in the fall before the municipal elections and the change
in municipal structure."

In London at the Chamber of Commerce, Jerry McCartney said, "I don't
know how acute the situation is in London, or if it's a problem." He did
mention, however, the London Mayor's task force on housing.

An important hand has just been extended to affordable housing advocates.

2. Provincial housing downloading stalled
 
The Ontario provincial legislature will end its present session on June
22. That leaves little time - in fact insufficient time - for even the
speedy Harris government to give the 'Downloading of Social Housing'
Bill (See Newsletter #5) a first reading as promised this spring. To ram
it through all three readings quickly would have required previous
notification of the house leaders of unusual up-coming procedures, and
that has not happened.

Communications staff of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
have not replied to requests for comment on this matter.

Paul Connelly of ONPHA says "The Conservatives now feel it's a
complicated issue because of its implications, not just in its desired
effects but in issues like selling off the free-standing and
semi-detached Ontario Public Housing stock." ( see Newsletter # 6)
Connelly thinks the Harris government is still awaiting a report
requested from Mac Carson, chair of Ontario Housing Corporation, so has
not yet made the final decision.

The government will also face problems with what to do with staff of
Local Housing Authorities, as well as the Authorities' assets.

Downloading, Connelly points out, will require "very detailed cabinet
decisions and discussion before the Attorney General can write such a
complicated piece of legislation."

And that means reprieve, at least until October when the legislature reconvenes.

3. Visit our web site

Check out the "Alerts" section of the Housing Again web site for fresh
news posted right away. The section is updated daily and contains
important and interesting information. Point your browser to
http://www.housingagain.web.net then click on "alerts". Make sure to
check regularly for new information. If you have a news release or other
news, you can post it to the site by clicking on "post".   - end -