Kawartha Lakes Residents Invited to Share Affordable Housing Insights
September 16, 2009 9:00 AM
McGuinty Government Seeks Input on Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy
Ontario is developing a long-term affordable housing strategy and is inviting City of Kawartha Lakes residents, community groups and professionals in the local housing sector to participate in consultations.
Participants will be asked to share their ideas on how to improve and streamline housing services and programs to make them work for the people who need access to adequate, suitable and affordable housing.
A public meeting will be held at Victoria Park Armoury, 210 Kent St. West, Lindsay, on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Residents can also share their input by visiting www.Ontario.ca/housingstrategy.
Developing a long-term affordable housing strategy is an important part of Breaking the Cycle: Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy, which will reduce the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over five years -- lifting 90,000 kids out of poverty -- by boosting benefits for low-income families and enhancing publicly-funded education.
QUICK FACTS
- In the City of Kawartha Lakes, $8.2 million has been approved to create 69 units of affordable housing. There is a notional allocation of more than $2.3 million to repair and retrofit local social housing units in such areas as energy efficiency, health and safety improvements and improved accessibility.
- Every new unit of affordable housing results in two years of employment for a person working in the housing sector.
- The province, in partnership with the federal government, has committed $1.2 billion in investment to repair and retrofit social housing units, create new housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities, and to extend the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. Ontario is moving quickly to implement this new funding with a total of 39 "quick start" projects totalling over $76 million.
LEARN MORE
CONTACTS
- Adam Grachnik
Minister's Office, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
416-585-6492
ontario.ca/municipal
"Affordable housing affects every individual and family in our community. The Ontario government wants to hear creative ideas on how to make affordable housing accessible to everyone who needs it."
– Rick Johnson
MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock
"Local housing experts and residents are well-positioned to provide practical advice on how to improve our approach to affordable housing. I look forward to hearing their opinions as we develop the long-term affordable housing strategy."
– Mario Sergio
MPP for York West and Parliamentary Assistant to Jim Watson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
"This is the time to look at the housing systems and programs we have in place and make sure they work for the people in this province, now, and in the future. "
– Jim Watson
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Communities
