It's Time to Bring Canadians in from the Margins

© The Wellesley Institutewww.wellesleyinstitute.com

It’s time to bring Canadians in from the marginsA Wellesley Institute webinar with

Senator Art Eggleton

January 15, 2010

The Hon. Art Eggleton, P.C.Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology


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• Introduction by Michael Shapcott, Wellesley Institute

• Welcome by Rick Blickstead, Wellesley Institute

• In from the Margins, A conversation with Senator Art Eggleton

• What Happens Next?

1. Parliament: Where is the Report Now?

2. Community: What Can We Do Next?

• Questions and comments

January 15, 2010

Our agenda


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• Questions• Type them in the chat box (bottom right)• We will answer what we can and address any

others after the webinar

• Technical concerns• Our team is standing by…

• Pop-up polls – throughout the webinar

• Additional resources

January 15, 2010

Introduction


The Wellesley Institute advances urban health through rigorous research, pragmatic policy solutions, social innovation, and community action.


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“We have seen homelessness and poverty become increasingly worse as Canada has become increasingly richer.”

Bruce Porter, Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation

• Even when people get all possible income and social supports, they are still in poverty

• At their worst, existing policies and programs trap people in poverty

Poverty, housing, homelessness

January 15, 2010


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• Interaction of personal and systemic factors• Feedback Loop:

• Aboriginal people, single parents (usually women), people with disabilities, and immigrants most affected

Poverty: Complex issue

exclusion

isolation

poverty

January 15, 2010


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“It costs $48,000 a year to leave someone on the street. It costs $28,000 a year to house them. That argument has been around a long time. It does not seem to make any difference.”

Kim Kerr, Executive Director, Downtown Eastside Residents Association

• Health-care , policing, education costs

• Diminished economic and social progressBut…• It’s not just about spending more, it’s

about spending smarter

Poverty: Costly issue

January 15, 2010


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• The “policy orphan” – avoided by federal government and private sector

• Cost of homelessness – national price tag is up to $6 billion a year

• Income poverty – having a good job is no longer guarantees a good home

Focus on Housing

January 15, 2010


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• Let’s evaluate a few promising practices, starting with the big ones

• Before we get started, let’s do a quick poll using the poll buttons (on the right)

January 15, 2010

How is Canada doing?


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• Federal funding for new housingo Launched in 2001o Renewed for 5 years in 2008

But…o No long-term commitmento The rules keep changing

January 15, 2010

Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI)

Recommende

d •Make it permanent•Increase funding


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• Federal funding for housing repairso Renewed for 5 years in 2008

But…

• RRAP needs to be secure

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP)

Recommende

d •Make it permanent•Increase funding

January 15, 2010


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• Communities create local plans that are then funded by federal governmento Renewed for 5 years in 2008

But…

• Limited to 61 communities across Canada

National Homelessness Initiative (NHI)

Recommende

d• Sustain NHI until a

comprehensive federal strategy is developed

January 15, 2010


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• Federal funding (2006) for housing• $800 million for affordable housing• $300 million for Northern housing• $300 million for Aboriginal housing

But…• Lack of evaluation• No long-term commitment

Housing trust funds

Recommende

d•Expand and sustain the funds•Create accountability

January 15, 2010


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• Federal subsidies paid to tenants or landlords

But…

• Federal funding has been dramatically reduced

Housing allowances

Recommende

d• Use rent supplements to

provide fast access• Include portable housing

allowances

January 15, 2010


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• Provides surplus federal lands for housing

But…

• Lengthy and bureaucratic process

Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative (SFRPHI)

Recommende

d• Make SFRPHI a priority of the

Canada Lands Corporation• Expedite process

January 15, 2010


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• Federal funding for urban Aboriginal peoples• Introduced in 1998• Successful in helping Aboriginal peoples

But…• Housing is not a priority in the mandate

Urban Aboriginal Strategy

Recommende

d•Greater investment and collaboration• Subsidies to off-reserve non-profit

Aboriginal housing providers• Create an Aboriginal working group

January 15, 2010


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• Current taxation policy does not encourage development of social housing projects on a large scale

Taxation policy

Recommende

d • New White Paper on tax measures for construction of affordable rental housing, including the donation of funds, lands or buildings

January 15, 2010


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• Canada does not yet have coherent, national approach to housing and homelessness

• Current federal programs are• Insufficient• Inadequate• Without any long-term commitment

No coherent national policy

January 15, 2010

© The Wellesley Institutewww.wellesleyinstitute.comJanuary 15, 2010

All levels of government

First Nations organizations

Other housing

providers

National housing and homelessness

strategy

WANTED


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• Released in December 2009

• Debate in Senate delayed to early March

• Adoption is expected because the committee is bi-partisan (assuming no election)

• Government will have 150 days to respond

Parliament is suspended!Where is the Report now?

January 15, 2010


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• Thanks for joining us, but let’s get focused on what we can do

• Join Michael Shapcott on the Wellesley blog

What’s next for us?

• Get Presentation Notes• Use the Recommendation Guide to

the Report• Join the Housing e-Map• Tell us the issues that are most

crucial in your community

January 15, 2010


QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

January 15, 2010

It's Time to Bring Canadians in from the Margins

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Transcript of It's Time to Bring Canadians in from the Margins