It’s a new year, and Canada has a new federal housing and homelessness minister. What would be the best new year’s resolution for the Hon. Monte Solberg, as he settles into his new office?

In recent years, growing homelessness and housing insecurity, along with effective political advocacy, has prompted politicians to create a patchwork of funding and programs. But the current dollars and programs don’t meet the scale of the national need, and the programs are often inconsistent, vague and sometimes even contradictory.

The Wellesley Institute’s latest national backgrounder on housing and homelessness says that a key priority for 2007 should be to push the bits and pieces of housing and homelessness funding into a comprehensive and fully-funded national housing program.

- Michael Shapcott