London Residents Invited To Share Affordable Housing Insights
September 8, 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 London 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 North London Optimist Community Centre, 1345 Cheapside Street, London on Tuesday, September 8, 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
- The province, in partnership with the federal government, has made a $1.2 billion 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.
- The Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of London recently announced $1.63 million to fund a construction-ready project sponsored by Southdale Apartments Inc. that will create 39 units of affordable housing for people with special needs.
- In its 2008 Budget, the Ontario government has provided $100 million in grants to Service Managers to help them make urgent repairs to social housing. Of that funding, the City of London received over $3.3 million.
- Every new unit of affordable housing results in two years of employment for a person working in the housing sector.
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. It's a key part of our Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Ontario government wants to hear creative ideas on how to make affordable housing accessible to everyone who needs it."
– Khalil Ramal
MPP, London-Fanshawe
"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
