Bill 140 passes, province responds to pressure, retains 'safeguard' against social housing sell-offs
Bill 140, the Strong Communities Through Affordable Housing Act, was passed by the Ontario Legislature on April 19, 2011. The Act replaces the Social Housing Reform Act with the new Housing Services Act, and also makes changes to other housing laws in Ontario. The Housing Network of Ontario and it's partners called for many changes to the new Act, which the government failed to make, except to retain a veto on sell-offs of social housing by municipalities. There is still much work to be done to improve the housing system in Ontario, and we will continue to advocate for affordable housing and an end to the housing crisis.
The Toronto Star covered the issue in this story:
(read more...)
HNO partners call for changes in Bill 140 to protect social housing
The Housing Network of Ontario and many community partners have made submissions to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy during the hearings on Bill 140, the Strong Communities Through Affordable Housing Act. See those submissions by following the drop-down menu under 'Reports and Submissions'.
HNO Partners were also featured in media coverage of the hearings:
(read more...)
How the Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy fails the people of Ontario
An audio podcast in which Housing Network of Ontario co-chair – Yutaka Dirks of the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, explains the shortcomings of the province’s long-term affordable housing strategy and how low-income Ontarians and their allies can work to address the housing crisis:
http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/john-bonnar-audio-blog/2010/12/ontario%E2%80%99s-long-term-affordable-housing-strategy-falls-0 (read more...)
No funding in province’s housing plan
Affordable housing advocates hoping for more funding for rent-geared-to-income subsidies or promises to build more affordable housing units were left disappointed by the long-awaited release of a provincial affordable housing strategy Monday.
Read the full story (read more...)
New plan but no money
Where's the cash?
That's what anti-poverty advocates want to know when it comes to the province's new long-term housing and homelessness strategy.
The plan, introduced at Queen's Park Monday, offers some good ideas but little in the way of funding to build new units and help fund programming, said Kathy Wodzinski, of Community Legal Assistance Sarnia.
Read the full story (read more...)
