‘Record-high house prices and household indebtedness’ in Canada has prompted the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to urge that government-back mortgage insurance rules should be tightened and other measures taken to “cool down the market”. The advice comes in the OECD’s September 2010 economic survey for Canada. The OECD report confirms deep insecurity in […]
Housing
End homelessness in Canada in ten years: First glimpse at plans for powerful new national voice
Plans are underway for a powerful new national voice in Canada to end homelessness. Tim Richter from the Calgary Homeless Foundation recently delivered a presentation that provides an overview of the new organization. Stay tuned for more details in the new year. Alberta’s Seven Cities Partnership has been effective in developing community plans to end homelessness, […]
Ontario Sets 2012 Rent Increase Guideline at 3.1% – More Than 4 Times Higher Than Last Year's
The Ontario government has set the 2012 rent review guideline at 3.1% – more than four times higher than last year’s rent review guideline of 0.7% and the highest set by the Ontario government in a decade. Private landlords are allowed to increase rents (with 90 days notice) up to the guideline limit once every 12 […]
Ontario’s Affordable Housing Crisis Is Centred In Rented Sector: New Report
Ontario’s affordable housing crisis is growing worse, especially in the private rented sector where most low and moderate-income households are required to find a home. Tens of thousands of very-low income renter households cannot afford private market rents and have been squeezed out of the traditional private rented sector, and relegated to substandard, secondary rental […]
Continue ReadingOntario’s Affordable Housing Crisis Is Centred In Rented Sector: New Report
Ontario Government: Improve SROI With Strategic Investments In Innovation, Housing And Health
The Wellesley Institute calls on the Ontario government to take a multi-sectoral 10-year approach to maximizing its social return on investment. In a 15-minute presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs of the Ontario Legislature (see the official Committee transcript) on Monday, February 1, Rick Blickstead outlined three major recommendations for strategic investment. […]
Continue ReadingOntario Government: Improve SROI With Strategic Investments In Innovation, Housing And Health Download PublicationInvesting In Equity And Innovation: Ensuring A Healthy Future
Tracking the impact of cuts to housing and homelessness supports
Ontario recently eliminated the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB). The CSUMB helped people receiving social assistance to pay for large or unexpected housing-related costs, supporting them to become and remain housed. As of January 1, 2013, the CSUMB ended and 50 percent of its funding was passed to municipalities as part of a consolidation […]
Continue ReadingTracking the impact of cuts to housing and homelessness supports
Counting down to the end of the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit: there’s still time for Ontario to avoid a crisis
We’re now less than two weeks away from the Government of Ontario terminating the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) and an impending and avoidable housing and homelessness crisis. The CSUMB helps people receiving social assistance to pay for large or unexpected housing-related costs, supporting them to become and remain housed. As of January 1st, this […]
Great holiday news as Ontario steps up with transitional funding for housing and homelessness supports
The Ontario government announced today that it would provide transitional funding of $42 million in 2013-14 for municipalities to develop and implement their consolidated housing and homelessness plans, which will set out how each muncipality addresses their local housing needs. The Wellesley Institute and community groups from across the province have been calling on the government to […]
Ontario’s holiday gift to Toronto restores some of housing and homeless funding that was cut
Toronto will get a $12.3 million holiday gift from the province – partial repayment, for one year only, of $21 million in housing and homelessness funding cutsthat took effect on January 1st. The Ontario government rushed out its announcement of $42 million in transitional housing and homelessness funds to municipalities in the middle of the holiday season, just […]
Cut to housing benefits will affect the health of the homeless, women, children, and people with disabilities
In the 2012 Ontario budget, the government announced that it was eliminating the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB). The CSUMB helps people receiving social assistance to pay for large or unexpected housing-related costs, supporting them to become and remain housed. As of January 1, 2013, the CSUMB will end and 50 percent of its […]