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DRAFT
VERSION
In the mid 1990s Ontario
embarked on a radical experiment in housing policy. The government said
it would get "out of the housing business" and placed its faith
in the private market to meet the housing needs of Ontarians.
By any measure, this experiment has been a failure. The promised results
- more new rental housing and better upkeep of existing properties - have
not been realized.
The Housing and
Homeless Network of Ontario (HHNO) is calling for a new housing strategy
for Ontario built on four pillars.
1. An affordable construction strategy
To keep pace with population growth Ontario needs between 15,000 and 20,000
new affordable rental homes each year. A new program, based on a one-time-only
capital grant, would be cost-effective, easy to administer and ensure
accountability. A specific component should be set aside for off-reserve
Aboriginal housing.
This
new housing should be:
- Affordable to
renter households over the long term,
- Built throughout
Ontario and matched in form and quantity to local needs,
- Accessible to
people with special needs or requiring support services.
Role
of provincial and federal governments:
- Capital grants
to bring the costs down to an affordable level,
- Fair tax environment
for the new rental housing,
- Rent supplements
to ensure access by low-income households,
- Mortgage insurance
or similar lending guarantees.
Role
of the private sector:
- Planning, engineering,
construction, architectural, and other development services,
- Mortgage lending,
legal, accounting and other operational services.
Role
of the community and non-profit sector:
- Community animation,
partnerships, development and co-ordination,
- Project sponsorship
and ongoing management.
Role
of the Aboriginal community:
- Development and
management of off-reserve Aboriginal housing,
- Aboriginal control
of Aboriginal housing.
2. Protecting existing affordable stock
Ontario's existing
rental housing faces two big threats. First, it is aging
and major systems need to be replaced. Second, some owners
want to demolish or redevelop existing units. Currently, more rental units
are being lost than built.
Measures
to protect existing stock:
- New legislation
to control the conversion or demolition of rental housing,
- Programs to encourage
rehabilitation of older rental housing without displacing existing tenants.
3. Initiatives to address homelessness
and affordability
As rents rise faster
than incomes, low-income households are forced to pay an ever-increasing
amount to keep their homes. Removal of rent controls, short supply, stagnant
social assistance and minimum wage rates, have placed a squeeze on tenants.
One-quarter of Ontario renter households spend more than half of their
income on rent. This puts many on the brink of homelessness. Jail has
replaced affordable housing for a growing number of poor people who are
bounced in and out of custody with nowhere to establish roots.
Increase
incomes:
- Minimum wage should
be increased by 20% and linked to inflation,
- Shelter component
of welfare should reflect the actual cost of rents.
Fair
rents:
- Limit rents increases
to no more than the rate of inflation,
- One rent increase
per year, regardless of change in tenancy.
Housing
not jails:
- Use restoration
and mediation to limit the cost of jailing people,
- Better supports
and transitional housing programs for those released from jail.
4. Real consumer protection
Tenant protection
In 1998, Ontario's Tenant Protection Act reduced tenant rights and created
a politically-appointed adjudication system that churns through over 60,000
eviction applications per year.
New
legislation is required that:
- Establishes a
reasonable dispute resolution system,
- Uses qualified,
competent, and trained adjudicators,
- Provides security
of tenure, removes incentives for landlords to end tenancies,
- Limits rent increases
to inflation and links them to sound maintenance and good consumer service.
Human
rights:
The most vulnerable populations often face the greatest barriers when
seeking accommodation. Housing discrimination confronts single parents,
visible minorities, youth, recent immigrants, those with various disabilities,
homeless people and households with low incomes or bad credit, among others.
While illegal, housing discrimination is commonplace.
New
funding and new legislation is required that:
- Ensure that the
Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman have the resources
and legal powers to respond to complaints in a timely manner,
- Human rights and
housing rights are restored in key Ontario legislation, including tenant
protection laws and the Social Housing Reform Act.
For additional
information:
Jennifer Ramsay,
Advocacy and Outreach Co-Ordinator
Advocacy Centre for Tenants - Ontario (ACTO)
425 Adelaide W, 5th floor Toronto, ON M5V 3C1
(T) 416-597-5855, ext 5168 (F) 416-597-5821
Toll-free: 1-866-245-4182
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