HOUSINGAGAIN-L HOUSING AGAIN - Bulletin Number 19

[Catherine Nasmith <cnasmith@sympatico.ca>]

HOUSING AGAIN - Bulletin Number 19
September 18, 2000

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


In this bulletin
1. Muskoka takes action against housing problems
2. Municipal action in London
3. New book on Olympic impact
4. Announcement
5. News from our web site


1. Muskoka takes action against housing problems

The District of Muskoka (Huntsville, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and points
in between) was profiled in the second phase of Where's Home?  The area
was very hard hit by the recession, but is recovering as the mainstay
tourism industry increases.  All areas had a high vacancy rate in 1995,
but this has now decreased substantially in Huntsville and Bracebridge
where there are very few rental units.  Rents are increasing and
affordability for tenants is at an all-time low.  Almost no new rental
housing is being constructed.

Over 30% of the individuals and families dealt with by the area housing
help worker were defined as homeless.  They were either sleeping rough
in tents or cars, couch surfing" with friends or family, staying at
shelters, staying in motels, or released from jail with nowhere to go. 
In addition, a further 20% said they had neither a telephone nor a
contact number.  There is clearly a housing crisis in Muskoka.

The District Council through their Advisory Committee on Homelessness
has made a number of recommendations and taken a number of initiatives
designed to address some of the problems.  They are funding some of
these programs directly, are conducting a public awareness and media
strategy, and are encouraging other partners to act.  This is a list of
some of their key activities –

Early eviction intervention program - a lot of tenants have been evicted
for non-payment of rent in the last year.  Muskoka Legal Services has
negotiated a way of identifying tenants at risk (from the Housing
Tribunal), and is developing a process for appropriate early
intervention.  A general outreach campaign to tenants is planned.

Housing help worker - this position has been in place since the
beginning of the year.  The person does community outreach, fields
inquiries from those seeking housing or with housing problems, helps
landlords fill vacant  units, and generally acts as a catalyst for good
ideas about housing.  For example, the worker helped an agency staff
member prepare some materials about shared housing for seniors, and has
been participating on a committee trying to get funding for supportive
housing for seriously mentally ill people.  The worker also refers
people to other agencies such as CERA.

Emergency shelter - they have arranged with the municipal non-profit
housing corporation to provide one unit to run as a shelter, and have
been providing vouchers to other homeless people for accommodation in
the few shelters that already exist.  They are looking for corporate
donations to continue the program.  They also have a small emergency
assistance fund that tenants can apply to for items such as rent
deposits and hydro arrears. And, they are working with the local hydro
company to try to get better  deals on deposits for low-income people. 

Voice mail program - to become operational in the next few months using
funding raised by local university and college students, this service
will provide a place for people seeking work and / or housing to receive 
messages.

More rental housing - this is mainly a public information campaign and
lobbying strategy.  The District will co-ordinate the activities of
faith groups, service clubs, community organizations, riding
associations and others on the campaign.  The District will also work
with faith organizations and others that may already own vacant land
suitable for housing, and with local landlords and developers so that
any opportunities can be pursued vigorously.


2. Municipal Action in London

London was also profiled in phase 2 of Where's Home?  The city had a
high vacancy  rate in the early 90's, peaking at 6% in October, 1996. 
Since then, the rate has declined due to strong employment growth, and
this trend is expected to continue - the vacancy  rate in October 1999
was 3.5%.  There is a strong private rental sector in London, and a
number of rental projects are being built in addition to two new student
residences.  Sounds good,
doesn't it?

However, there are serious affordability problems for tenants in London,
with rent increases consistently being greater than inflation.  Tenant
incomes are low and many people are paying too much for housing.

The city is using money from the provincial Homelessness Initiatives
Fund to provide more shelter beds for both women and men, and have also
started a shelter for youth run by the Salvation Army.  In addition, the
John Howard Society received money to provide support services for youth
leaving emergency shelter.

There is probably a lot more going on in the community.  If you know of
innovative initiatives in London, we'd like to hear from you.  Please
post a note in the Housing Again Discussion Area under thread Innovative
 Housing.


3. New book on the real Olympic impact

"Inside the Olympic Industry" is a new book by University of Toronto
sociology professor Helen Jefferson Lenskyj.  Lenskyj does not hate
sports - in fact, she has devoted 20 years of her academic career to the
study of sport and believes it has great value.  She makes it clear that
what she doesn't like is the reality of the modern Olympics, the
uncritical eye cast by media upon them, and the way in which the
interests of the disadvantaged are so frequently those first sacrificed
in host cities.

The book is an analysis from the perspective of those adversely affected
by the social, economic, political, and environmental impacts of hosting
an Olympic Games.  Lenskyj goes beyond the media hype of international
goodwill and spirited competition to uncover a darker side of the global
Games.  She reports on the pre- and post-Olympic impacts from recent
host cities, bribery investigations and their outcomes, grassroots
resistance ovements, and the role of the mass media in the controversy.

Among other things, Lenskyj wants Torontonians to think things over
before they blindly support the mayor and the special interests who
support the Games bid.  "Despite boosters' promises, most host cities
experienced more negative than positive social, political, economic and
environmental  impacts," she writes.

"As was the pattern with other hallmark events and other subsidized
public sport arenas, the Olympics left behind limited benefits - the
'bourgeois playground' legacy - to be enjoyed, for the most part, by the
more privileged sectors of society, while the powerless
disproportionately bore the burden.  "While some of the promised
economic boosts may eventuate, there is little evidence that the people
at 'the bottom of the food chain'
will reap any benefits."

In both Atlanta and Sydney, Lenskyj says, the problems of disadvantaged
populations were exacerbated by Olympic preparations.  She says it has
not been uncommon, even in democratic societies, for police powers to be
enhanced in order to render "urban problems invisible to the outside
world." And public participation - in development applications,
environmental assessments, public hearings - is often sacrificed, she
notes, to the "unforgiving deadline" of Games construction.

For more information...
State University of New York Press
Tel: 607-277-2211 (inquiries)
Fax: 1-800-688-2877
Email: info@sunypress.edu


4. Options for Homes project incorporates units for low-income seniors

Options for Homes has been building affordable condominium units for a
few years now.  The units they develop generally sell for about 20%
below market, which is possible because a building co-op comprised of
the purchasers acts as the developer.

They have always hoped to be able to incorporate some extremely
affordable units into their projects, and this has now been made
possible in their 430-unit project at 650 Lawrence Avenue West (the
former CMHC offices).  A deferral in development charges by the city
with matching money from the sponsor has allowed Toronto Housing Company
to take ownership of 32 of the units for rental to low-income seniors. 
If the units are ever sold, the development charges would be paid to the city.

Mike Labbé of Options for Homes says that getting PST and GST deferrals
would allow an additional 10 to 15% of the units to be built on this
basis. He's working on this possibility for future projects.

The building co-op model can be used in other parts of the country by
arrangement with Options for Homes.  If you are interested in developing
similar projects in your area, contact Mike Labbé at options @icomm.ca.


5. Announcement

The revolving loan fund operated by Our Homes Association that was
written up last time is RRSP-eligible.  It's a good investment for
people concerned  about affordable housing, and provides a return of
about 7% per annum. Please contact David Walsh at dwalsh@ web.net for
further details.


6. Something new from the web site

The last two weeks brought a very wide variety of interesting news in
the alerts section of our web site.  Check it out for the latest news
about housing.

Province Hands Over Run Down Housing - Municipal officials who will soon
be responsible for running Ontario's public housing are asking uneasy
questions about its state of repair.  [Toronto Star editorial - 9 Sep 00]

Toronto Develops Plan for Federal SCPI Homelessness Funds - City of
Toronto housing staff have submitted a proposed community plan for the
$53 million federal SCPI funds.  The Community Services Committee will
consider the plan at its meeting on Sept. 14.  [City of Toronto Housing
- 7 Sep 00]

New Film: 'Dark Days' - Nightmare Society of Wrecked Urban Lives - For
some, their worst nightmare might be to find themselves indigent and
homeless. But as Marc Singer's remarkable documentary film "Dark Days"
illustrates, even the worst nightmare can have descending levels of
horror.  [Housing Again Culture Committee - 3 Sep 00]

On the Brink of a Crisis: Shelters Struggle to Cope with an
'Unbelievable' Number of Homeless People - Because Cambridge has only a
small shelter for young people, the city is looking at the possibility
of creating one for men, women and families. Currently, omeless adults
in Cambridge are often given bus tickets and sent to Kitchener shelters.
 [Out of the Cold programs, Kitchener-Waterloo - 3 Sep 00]

Affordable Housing Strategy for Canada - CHRA wants your views - CHRA is
developing a position paper on an affordable housing strategy for
Canada. To complete the questionnaire, visit the CHRA website at
www.chra-achru.ca. [Canadian Housing and Renewal Association - 2 Sep 00]