PRESS RELEASES

Housing and Homelessness Network in Ontario
April 10, 2002

For immediate release April 10, 2002 Focus on housing, homelessness in the Nipissing by-election North Bay and the surrounding area are caught in the grip of the province-wide housing crisis and homelessness disaster. The North Bay Network for Social Action and the Housing and Homelessness Network in Ontario (HHNO) are working together during the Nipissing by-election to make sure that housing issues and housing solutions get on the political agenda. "The rental vacancy rate in North Bay is a painfully low 2.7%, the lowest in Northern Ontario," says Barbara Anello of the North Bay network. "And the city is losing the precious few units that it has. North Bay has lost 16 rental units over the past two years, a critical loss in a rental market that is already extremely tight. Meanwhile, rents keep on rising, even though renter household incomes are falling. Last year, North Bay landlords collected more than $23.5 million in rents. Dwindling supply, low vacancy rates, rising rents and falling incomes - it all adds up to a housing crisis in North Bay, and right across Ontario." "The housing crisis and homelessness disaster are caused by a series of provincial government decisions since 1995," says Jennifer Ramsay, HHNO spokesperson. "Ontario cut 17,000 units of co-op and non-profit housing approved for development, then stopped all funding for new social housing in 1995. It gutted rent regulation and tenant protection laws, which has allowed average rents across the province to increase most years at more than double the rate of inflation and has allowed landlords to 'fast-track' the eviction of more than 200,000 renter households that could not afford to pay their rent. The province cut the shelter allowance payments for welfare recipients by 21.6%, which left them with lots less money to pay for rising rents." The North Bay network and the Ontario network will co-sponsor an all-candidates' meeting, and organize other activities, that will help to sharpen the focus on housing and homelessness during the Nipissing by-election. They will distribute a flyer voter registration for the homeless and under-housed tenants, along with information on housing and homelessness issues and solutions. For information, contact: Barbara Anello, North Bay Network for Social Action - 705-494-9078 Jennifer Ramsay, Housing and Homelessness Network in Ontario - 416-597-5855, x5168 HHNO is a network of more than 40 housing and homelessness advocates from across the province. We work in health and legal clinics, housing centres, community services and other agencies in the front lines of the campaign for affordable housing.

 

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Last updated April 10, 2002

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