This presentation offers insights on housing and homelessness as they relate to Ontario's 2011 provincial election. Michael Shapcott, Director of Housing and Innovation www.wellesleyinstitute.com Follow us on twitter @wellesleyWI

1. Housing and
homelessness
and Ontario’s 2011
provincial election
Legal clinics forum
October 19, 2011
Michael Shapcott
Director, Housing and Innovation
The Wellesley Institute
Thursday, October 20, 2011

2. Ontario’s new
housing minister
Thursday, October 20, 2011

3. Federal housing cuts:
Federal 2011-12 Spending Estimates cut 39% in
housing investments from $3.1 billion last year to $1.9
billion this year, including 97% cut to affordable
housing initiative, 94% cut to housing repairs and 70%
cut to assisted housing.
Short-term federal housing and homelessness
initiatives expire in 2014: All short-term funding ends,
including July 2011 federal-provincial-territorial
affordable housing agreement. In addition, long-term
“step out” of federal long-term housing commitments
(started in 1996) continues...
Thursday, October 20, 2011

4. More federal cuts on horizon
CMHC housing programs
from 2010 to 2014:
39% cut in housing program
elimination of AHI
8% cut (50,200 homes) in
households assisted
96% cut in repairs
Thursday, October 20, 2011

5. Thursday, October 20, 2011

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

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From 1998 to 2008:
Ontario only province to cut
housing investments
Thursday, October 20, 2011

8. Ontario auditor general, 2009:
“No provincial strategy to help ensure long-term
sustainability of sufficient numbers of well-maintained
social housing units.”
No provincial plan to deal with expiry of federal subsidies.
‘Fragmented and inefficient approach’ among more than
20 housing programs in three provincial ministries.
Poor design, lack of monitoring, left Ontario ‘unable to
determine whether funds were spent fulfilling most critical
social housing needs’
Ontario unable to account for $330 million in federal
housing funds transferred to the province.
Thursday, October 20, 2011

9. New affordable homes: Provincial inclusionary housing
policy that authorizes municipalities to require affordable
housing in new development, combined with long-term
supply plan with targets, timelines and committed funding.
Affordability measures: Universal housing benefit to cover
the gap between household income and housing costs.
Rent regulation / rental housing protection: Rent
regulation and rental housing protection key components of
enhanced tenant protection laws.
Ending homelessness / linking with supports: Ontario
needs a solid plan and funding – to end homelessness.
Thursday, October 20, 2011

10. A strategic vision:
Building from community up...
2.2 Policy Direction
Service Managers will ensure that housing and
homelessness plans:
a. provide measures to prevent homelessness by
supporting people to stay in their homes including
eviction prevention measures and the provision of
supports appropriate to clients’ needs;
b. are based on a Housing First philosophy and
developed in consultation with a broad range of
local stakeholders including those who have
experienced homelessness;
c. support innovative strategies to address
homelessness;
d.include the provision of supports prior to and
after obtaining housing to facilitate transitioning
people from the street and shelters to safe,
adequate and stable housing.
Thursday, October 20, 2011

11. Thank you!
www.wellesleyinstitute.com
Thursday, October 20, 2011