HOUSINGAGAIN-L Housing Again-Bulletin No. 28

[Catherine Nasmith <cnasmith@sympatico.ca>]

HOUSING AGAIN - Bulletin Number 28
March 1, 2001

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 issue:
1. Report Card on Homelessness
2. Streetcount Update
3. Board of Trade signals concerns
4. CBC Special on Housing
5. Check out our Alerts!

***********
1. Report Card on Homelessness

Last week Toronto city officials released their second annual Report
Card on homelessness. While some progress has been made increasing
collaboration between all levels of government, the report remains blunt
about the need for a comprehensive federal housing strategy. Leaving
housing in the hands of the private sector just doesn't work. "This
strategy has failed," the report notes.

Most disturbing is the rapidly changing face of those who are homeless.
More and more, evicted families, refugee claimants and abused women are
turning to hostels and  emergency shelters as a last-resort for housing.

In 1988, 320 two-parent families stayed in shelters, and by 2000 this
number had risen to 2,070. The number of children in shelters has risen
from 2,700 in 1988 to 6,200 in 1999. One-third of the children are under
the age of four.

Preliminary findings from the Toronto Indigent Deaths Enquiries (TIDE)
Project record the death of 37 homeless individuals on the streets of
Toronto in 2000.

The availability of rental and subsidized housing continues to decline,
with a vacancy rate of 0.6%. Rents continue to rise beyond the reach of
low-income tenants. In 2000, 27,336 applications were filed to evict
tenants resident in Toronto.

As of last November, the waiting list for subsidized housing consisted
of 20,364 single  adults, 30,563 families and 12,183 seniors. At current
rates it will take over 15 years just to clear this backlog and house
these applicants.

One slim glimmer of hope is that 384 new low-income rental units and 762
supportive housing units are being constructed. Obviously, this is far
below the current or future need. But this hope is counterbalanced by
another problem: in the face of Toronto's $305-million budget shortfall,
city councillors and the mayor are reported to be squabbling over
whether new shelter spaces are actually needed. Some of the funding for
the Let's Build program, which is helping to create new affordable
housing is also threatened. In order to raise some quick cash there is
also a proposal to sell off land to the highest bidder-- land that had
been set aside for affordable housing. 

Another area at risk is the grants expected to come from the city's
Homeless Initiative Funds  for housing and homeless services. This is
the budget source of funding for the Street Help  Line, tenant and
eviction help lines and the Tenant Defence Fund.

Housing Action Now is watching the City of Toronto budget closely, and
will continue to post information at Housing Again Alerts.

2. Streetcount Project

One recommendation from Report Card that will be realized soon is a
one-night count of homeless people on the street in Toronto, being
planned for late March. The evening's count will be added to the number
of people in shelters that evening to give an estimate of the homeless 
population.

Street counts have been successfully undertaken in Edmonton and Calgary
for several years, as well as in many U.S. cities. This is the first
time Toronto will conduct a systematic, city-wide survey.

Kevin Lee of the city's Shelter, Housing and Support Division, says that
the count will specifically not include information about locations.
"We're trying to have the count be as respectful and non-invasive as possible."

To develop a methodology for the count, the city has approved a budget
of $100,000. City staff, consultants, and a community reference group
have been working to develop a comprehensive system that can also be
used for additional counts planned for winter 2002 and 2003.

3. Board of Trade signals concerns

Toronto's housing market crunch has become so tight that red flags are
being raised in all directions. In a pre-budget submission to the
Ontario government the Toronto Board of Trade warns that lack of
affordable housing may become a deciding factor for businesses
considering a relocation to the city. As accommodation for employees
becomes increasingly difficult to obtain, companies may simply go where
housing is more available.

The Board calls on the provincial government to take a leadership role
in pushing for policies and partnerships to provide affordable housing –
not just funding for hostels or emergency shelters. "While this is
indeed an important part of any homelessness strategy, it deals only
with the issue on a short-term basis," the Board's brief states.
"Providing access to affordable housing - not temporary accommodation -
is the solution necessary."
The Board's full report may be found at 
http://www.bot.com/policystatements/policy01-2-21.html

4. CBC Special on Housing

Starting March 20th, CBC TV's Canada Now program (6 pm week nights)
begins a special series about tenants and landlords in the city of
Toronto, four years after the introduction of the Tenant Protection Act.
A discussion board has already been set up to collect comments at 
http://toronto.cbc.ca

5. Check out our Alerts section!

Check out our "Alerts" section of HousingAgain for fresh news up-dated
daily and important and interesting information. Point your browser to
http://www.housingagain.web.net 

then click on "alerts".

Two recent additions:

"Homelessness - Causes and Effects. The Relationship between
Homelessness and the Health, Social Services and Criminal Justice
Systems: A Review of the Literature". From the BC Ministry of Social
Development and Economic Security and the BC Housing Management
Commission 
http://alerts.web.net/show.cfm?id=2429&APP=housing

"First Nations Social Housing Opens in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside: A
Success Story". From HOMES BC Program, BC Housing
http://alerts.web.net/show.cfm?app=housing&id=2437

"The Municipal Role in Meeting Ontario's Affordable Housing Needs"
From the Ontario Professional Planners Institute
A new policy paper on housing in municipalities.
http://alerts.web.net/show.cfm?app=Housing&id=2467
http://www.ontarioplanners.on.ca/whatsnew.html

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 -