The Affordable Housing Action Network MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 2010

Who Are We? A network of over 100 individuals Representing over 40 agencies Concerned with addressing the issues of affordable housing and homelessness in and surrounding Hastings County

Founding Housing Working Group Agencies Include Community Advocacy & Legal Centre Three Oaks Foundation - Women’s Shelter Hastings County Social Services Youth Habilitation Hastings Housing Programs Branch Canadian Mental Health Association Hastings Housing Resource Centre

AHAN Vision AHAN believes that everyone has a right to safe, secure and affordable housing

Core Housing Need Affordability – measured as the ability of households to spend less than 30 per cent of before-tax income on shelter Adequacy – measured as dwellings reported by their occupants as not in need of major physical repairs Suitability – measured as having enough bedrooms for the size and make up of the household

Something to think about… As of December 31 st 2009, 1385 people remained on the waiting list for rent geared to income housing In 2009 Hastings County Social Services provided assistance for 1409 individuals who were homeless or at risk of being homeless due to a housing emergency situation In 2009, the Housing Programs Branch housed 108 applicants who had “urgent housing status”

Something to think about… From April 2009 to March 2010 the Three Oaks Foundation: Provided shelter for 107 women and 71 children in crises In 2009 the Community Advocacy & Legal Centre provided 353 people with duty counsel service at the Landlord & Tenant Board

Something to think about… In 2009 the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) provided shelter for 129 people through the transitional homes for the homeless of which 26 were children 728 calls in search of emergency housing could not be accommodated.

Something to think about… In 2009 the Hastings Housing Resource Centre (HHRC) assisted 1400 people on a one to one basis, 93% of these clients were homeless or in critical need of housing 4873 clients registered on the HHRC website in need of affordable housing in Hastings County

NEW GEARED TO INCOME AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING 2006 – 2010 Hastings Housing Programs Branch: –40 units created under the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program: Bancroft - 10, Belleville - 19, QW - 10; Tweed - 2 –120 rent supplements under 2 programs –61 households receiving down payment assistance for home purchase …….. continued.....

NEW GEARED TO INCOME AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING HHPB (continued) –40 new units – 20 in Belleville, 20 in Trenton –Addition of 4 units to existing Marmora building –Renovation and retrofit money received to address “adequacy” issues and improve efficiencies and safety –new units for Bancroft (5), Coe Hill (4) and Deseronto (5) from social housing reserves

Transitional, Emergency Housing Our House Too Casa Tres Quinte West emergency housing units 2010 – All Together Affordable Homes opened Tom’s Place in Belleville

Housing Market Conditions

Affordability on Minimum Wage Single $10.25/hr x 37.5 hours = $1651 monthly gross $811/$1651 = 49% of income Double $ 811/3302 = 25% Single worker on minimum wage cannot afford to rent a 2 bedroom apartment in Quinte Double income on minimum wage could pay $990 for shelter (mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities)

What Do We Believe? Homelessness, precarious housing and the lack of affordable housing, requires a community response Everyone needs to take action and be part of the solution

What can municipal government do? Lobby Federal and Provincial governments for long term sustainable funding for affordable housing programs Look to expert reports, for example Federation of Canadian Municipalities for recommendations

What can municipal government do? consider the need for affordable housing when reviewing local by laws, development charges policies Look to concepts such as Inclusionary Zoning to encourage or mandate the development of affordable housing in the context of new development Consider rezoning – for example commerical to multiresidential; increase density (R2 to R4

What can municipal government do? Success story: Vital Services By Laws in Hastings County

What can municipal government do? Encourage safe and secure rental housing by: –Updating and enforcing property standards by laws and committing resources to ensuring minimum standards are met –Enacting and using the established model of the Vital Services By Law

Our Purpose Today AHAN as a resource – to let you know who we are, who has the information in the community; to tell you of some of our efforts, such as participation in the provincial consultation on Affordable Housing Strategy AHAN as model – to encourage you to consider our for integrated approach to affordable housing: services, supports, protections, health, welfare, food security, income security AHAN seeking - a municipal champion for affordable housing issues

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