AFORDABLE HOUSING: STILL NO NATIONAL STRATEDY FOR CANADA.

Affordable Housing: Still No National Strategy

The availability of affordable housing is a key factor affecting the rate and depth of child and family poverty. Two in every three low income families with children lived in unaffordable housing in 2003 where shelter costs were more than 30% of their total income. CMHC has identified 1.5 million households as being in core housing need. Increasing energy costs are putting additional pressure on low income households.

Average shelter costs increased by more than 20% between 1993 and 2006. Yet federal govenment spending on housing went from $1.98 billion in 1993 to $2.03 billion in 2006. This increase looks encouraging but is actually a 25% decline when adjusted for inflation. The 2006 federal budget allocation of $1.4 billion for affordable housing for the provinces, territories, and urban Aboriginal communities is a positive start. But this is a one-time allocation.

Canada remains one of the few countries in the world without a comprehensive affordable housing strategy and permanent funding. Low income families need a strategy with predictable long-term funding of $2 billion annually. This could assist all levels of government the community and private sector to provide affordable and social housing. Federal funding must be renewed to support the continuation of the Supporting Community Partnerships Initiative (SCPI) addressing homelessness and the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP). A National Low Income Energy Efficiency Program is needed to assist low income renters and homeowners undertake energy efficiency upgrades to reduce energy consumption and fuel costs.

In May 2006 the U.N Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights reviewed Canada's housing and homelessness record and called it a national emergency. It called on the federal govenment to honour its international housing obligations and develop a national housing strategy that includes provincial territorial and municipal governments, the community and private sectors. Canada Mortage and Housing Corporation, the federal govenment's national housing agency is running a profit estimated at $1 billion in 2006. The federal government has to date rejected calls to reinvest the national housing profits in new affordable housing initiatives and is instead considering a plan to fully privatize CMHC.

Component

Goods jobs at living wages: Raise living standards for working poor families. Ensure full-time full year adult worker at minimum wage can rise above poverty line

Effective Child Income Benefits: Provide income supports to recognize cost of raising a child

Universally accessible system of Quality Early Learning and Child Care: Support optimal early development of children Enable parents to work or receive training.

Expand affordable housing: End adult and family homelessness enable parents to raise their children in healthy community environments.

Affordable and accessible post secondary education and training: Ensure access to post secondary education for qualified students from low and modest income families.

Assessment

N-Needs Improvement: Needs federal leadership to reestablish federal minimum wage ensure labour protection for precarious workers, refrom El and invest in adult education and lifelong learning programs

N-Needs Improvement: No plan to raise Canada Child Tax Benefit beyond 2007 Universal Child Care Allowance is taxable benefits upper income one-earner couples most.

F-Failure: Cancellation of bilateral Child Care Agreements puts in jeopardy expansion of Canada's fledgling child care services. Regulated child care meets the needs of only 15.5% of 0-12 yr olds.

N-Needs Improvement: $1.4 billion of new housing funding allocated to provinces territories urban Aboriginal communities. But no comprehensive affordable housing strategy in place.

N-Needs Improvement: Tuition fees rising in six provinces.

Recommendation

Raise minimum wage to $10/hr with inflation index. Strengthen Canada Labour Code to cover precarious workers Restore eligibility for EI. Address multi-dimensional labour market barriers of excluded groups.

Commit to increase child benefits a maximum of $5,000/child with assurance all low and modest income families retain full payment.

Create Pan-Canadian system of Early Learning and Child Care which is accessible affordable high quality. $1.2 billion/year minimum expenditures to support exsisting child care agreements with provinces and territories with commitment to increase annually.

Commit $2 billion/year for new social housing as part of affordable hosuing strategy. Renew and enhance homelessness program (SCPI) and housing rehabilitation (RRAP). Fund new energy conservation program for low income households.

Create separate funding transfer for post-secondary education. Increase student financial aid with higher proporttion for needs based grants.

Working Together ona Poverty Reduction Strategy for Canada

We urge the Govenment of Canada with the provinces, territories and First Nations to take up the UNICEF challenge to estabilish credible targets and timetables in order to bring the child poverty rate well below 10 per cent. Canada needs to follow the lead of the UK which in 1999 set out a twenty year mission to end child poverty in phases with strengthen early learning education, affordable housing, and health services were set, as well as increases to the minimum wagw and child benefits. The UK government is on track to meet its poverty reduction goals.

The provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador have each developed provincial poverty reduction strategies. Campaign 2000 calls on the federal government to develop a cross-canada Poverty Reduction Strategy in conjuction with provinces, territories and First Nations.

How is Canada doing in meeting 1989 unanimous resolution to end child poverty, and its internation commitments including UN Convention on the Rights of the Child?

Strengths: Strong financial position to make need investments projected federal surplus of over $13 billion for 06/07 Proven track record in reducing poverty among seniors Lessons from other OECD countries prove child poverty can be reduced 2 provinces already committed with provincal Poverty Reduction Strategies Public opinion supports government spending to reduce child poverty.

Weaknesses: Insufficient political will and leadership to establish plan with targets and timetables. Federal/Provincal inter-jurisdictional issues can complicate implementation. Competing/Shifting political priorites compromise progress

Next Steps: Campaign 2000 challenges each of the leaders of Canada's political parties to develop a Poverty Reduction Strategy with targets timetables and funding commitments. The srategy should be developed in substantive consultation with Candians, including those with lived experience of poverty. http://www.monitor.co.ug/ http://www.newvision.co.ug/ http://www.nrm.ug/ http://www.fdcuganda.org/ http://upc.blogspirit.com/ http://www.upcparty.net/ http://www.islamonline.com/ http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/ http://www.africadiaporainc.com/ From Ugandan-Community in Vancouver Western Canada. Peace/Love/Unity is our Motto. Wananchi Members.