… that’s the only way to describe the urban health landscape in the United States, the richest country in the world and the self-proclaimed leader of the “free” world. I’ve been in Baltimore for the International Conference on Urban Health and on Thursday afternoon was invited to visit parts of the inner city. I visited […]
BC auditor confirms that province's homeless programs "not successful"
John Doyle, the British Columbia auditor, has just released a sobering review of homelessness programs that concludes that the provincial government “has not been successful in reducing homelessness. Clear goals and objectives for homelessness and adequate accountability for results remain outstanding. Government also lacks adequate information about the homeless and about the services already available […]
Continue ReadingBC auditor confirms that province's homeless programs "not successful"
BC housing dollars don't match their promises
The Government of British Columbia promised in its Throne Speech on Monday that it would be ramping up spending on housing and homelessness – and those words caused a flurry of excitement in Calgary as almost 700 delegates to the national housing and homelessness conference began to gather. After all, on a per capita basis, […]
Continue ReadingBC housing dollars don't match their promises
Better off in shelter? Homelessness and immigrant families research launch – Thursday, July 24
Mark your calendars and plan to attend this important event on July 24: The Centre for Urban and Community Studies at the Cities Centre, University of Toronto will launch its report, Better Off in a Shelter? A Year of Homelessness and Housing for Immigrant, Non-Status, and Canadian-born Mothers. The study—the first of its kind in Canada—followed […]
Big news: Ontario inclusionary housing legislation passes second reading
Inclusionary housing (and the promise of thousands of new affordable homes in new developments across the province) is one step closer in Ontario as MPP Cheri DiNovo’s Bill 198 passed second reading in the Ontario Legislature this afternoon. The legislation would amend the Planning Act to give municipalities the power to require developers to include […]
Continue ReadingBig news: Ontario inclusionary housing legislation passes second reading
Big win at TO Exec Committee on panhandling…
Toronto City Council’s powerful Executive Committee has unanimously adopted a detailed panhandling strategy that bucks the terrible trend throughout North America to criminalize activities associated with homelessness, housing insecurity and poverty. The plan recognizes that there are socio-economic and health issues that drive people to beg for change on the city’s streets and, therefore, the […]
Continue ReadingBig win at TO Exec Committee on panhandling…
Big win for TCHC tenants and for all of Toronto: Affordable homes saved!
Toronto City Council’s Executive Committee voted unanimously on October 9 to back a plan by Councillor Ana Bailao’s special housing working group to preserve most of Toronto Community Housing Corporation’s affordable single family homes. The Bailao committee recommends that 619 homes be saved and proposes the sell-off of only 55 homes. It sets out a […]
Continue ReadingBig win for TCHC tenants and for all of Toronto: Affordable homes saved!
Bill C-13
The federal finance committee is holding public hearings on Bill C-13, which is the legislation that implements much of the recent federal budget. Politically, the decision is pretty much of a foregone conclusion ” it is unlikely that the opposition parties will defeat the government at the moment. But there is considerable room around the […]
Blame the dinosaurs…
By any conventional measures, the Alberta economy is on fire. The unemployment rate is the lowest in Canada, and the annual increase in gross domestic product is the highest. Taxes are the lowest in the country. A rising tide lifts all boats. So, why is it that the affordable housing crisis and homelessness is so […]
Blueprint for economic stimulus and poverty reduction in Ontario
A Blueprint for Economic Stimulus and Poverty Reduction in Ontario – the result of consultations in 30 Ontario communities – lays out a plan that could reduce the number of poor Ontarians by 197,420 (15 per cent) and reduce the number of poor children in Ontario by 62,000 (19 per cent) within the next three […]
Continue ReadingBlueprint for economic stimulus and poverty reduction in Ontario