National Housing Strategy Day of Action, Nov 22
National Housing Strategy Day of Action, Nov 22
National Housing Strategy Day of Action, Nov 22
Vancouver, Winnipeg, London, Toronto, Parry Sound,
Hamilton, Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax,
St. John's
From: "TDRC" <[log in to unmask]>
National Housing and Homelessness Network
For immediate release Friday, November 17, 2000
Housing, homelessness and the federal election:
Rating the policies of the five major parties
National Housing Strategy Day – Nov. 22
Four of Canada's five national political parties say they
will restore funding to national housing programs. But only
two parties have programs that meet the urgent need for new
affordable housing. Those are the results of a rating of
housing and homelessness platforms by the National Housing
and Homelessness Network (NHHN). The network, which includes
community-based housing and homelessness advocates from St.
John's to Vancouver, released its election report card
today.
The NHHN is co-sponsoring the National Housing Strategy Day
of Action on Nov. 22. Events are planned in Vancouver,
Edmonton, etc. "At community meals, forums, all-candidates'
meetings and other events, many people will be speaking out
on Nov. 22," says Kira Heineck of the NHHN. "Canada needs a
national housing strategy to deal with our national
homelessness disaster and housing crisis."
"About 200,000 people experience homelessness every year in
Canada," says Linda Mix, an NHHN member. "The fastest
growing group are families and children. The latest federal
figures show that 1.7 million households – more than 4.5
million people – are on the brink of homelessness. The root
cause is a lack of affordable housing."
"The federal government funded 20,000 to 30,000 new
non-profit and co-op housing units every year in the early
1980s," says Lucie Pourier, another NHHN member. "In 1993,
Ottawa stopped funding new social housing, so it's no
surprise that we have a nation-wide housing crisis seven
years later."
-----------------------------------------------------------
This press release contains five (5) pages:
On page 2 and 3 you will find an outline of the NHHN's
rating of the federal party platform's on housing and how
they compare to what we propose as a National Housing
Strategy.
Pages 4 and 5 give information on November 22 - Canada's
National Housing Strategy Day of Action with events
happening across the country.
For more information: Kira Heineck, NHHN @ 416-599-8372
page 2:
According to the NHHN, the key elements of a New National
Housing Program are:
funding: about $2 billion annually (the One Percent
Solution).
unit targets: about 25,000 new co-op and non-profit units
annually.
federal funding: Ottawa has to take the lead in funding
and developing a nation-wide program that meets the housing
needs of all Canadians.
Here's how the parties rate:
Bloc Quebe ois: Top marks. The party is committed to $2
billion in new spending. BQ members have been strong
advocates in the Commons on housing and homelessness. The
PQ government in Quebec still funds new social housing.
New Democratic Party: Top marks. The party is committed to
spending $1.2 billion for 25,000 new non-profit and co-op
units. NDPers sponsored a Commons debate on housing and
homelessness. The NDP government in B.C. still funds new
social housing.
Progressive Conservatives: Middling. No dollar or unit
commitments. The Tories have discovered the crisis and
promise they'll invest in new housing. The last PC
government (1984 to 1993) cut $2 billion in housing funds,
then cut new housing programs.
Liberals: Bare pass. They promise 15,000 to 30,000 new units
on a tiny $170 million annually. The dollars don't add up.
The Liberal plan relies on provincial co-operation. Will
Mike Harris or Ralph Klein invest in new housing? Not
likely.
Canadian Alliance: Failure. As homeless citizens die on the
streets, the Alliance says it's up to churches and charities
to deal with it. Rich Canadians will get tax cuts. Homeless
people will get the cold shoulder. Shame on the Alliance.
For information on this reportcard: Cathy Crowe, NHHN,
416-703-8482, x117
National contacts:
Linda Mix, Vancouver – 604-255-3099
John Argue, Vancouver – 604-254-0244
Jim Gurnett, Edmonton – 705-423-2285
Kira Heineck, Toronto – 416-599-8372
Francois Saillant, Montreal – 514-522-1010
Paul O'Hara, Halifax – 902-420-0303
Jocelyn Greene, St. John's – 709-754-2072
The network is an alliance of provincial and regional
coalitions such as the B.C. Housing and Homelessness
Network, Front d'Action Populaire en Réamanagément Urbain
and the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, plus local groups
and advocates.
Grading the parties – a housing and homelessness scorecard
page 3: RATING THE PARTIES - A HOUSING and HOMELESSNESS
SCORECARD
Bloc Quebe ois = A
Election commitment of $2 billion in new federal spending on
social housing. In Parliament, Bloc spoke out effectively on
housing and homelessness concerns.
New Democratic Party = A
Election commitment to create 25,000 new social housing
units at an annual investment of $1.2 billion. Solid actions
in Parliament in recent years.
Progressive Conservative = C
No specific commitment to new units or new dollars, but a
promise to be an "active partner" in developing a new
national housing strategy.
Liberal Party = C -
Election commitment to create 15,000 to 30,000 new units on
a measly $170 million annually. Recent conversion on this
issue is too little, too late.
Canadian Alliance = F
No money. No programs. No mention in party platform. No
secret plan to house the homeless. Homeless are so poor
they don't pay taxes, so no tax cuts either.
For information, call Cathy Crowe of the National Housing
and Homelessness Network at 416-703-8482, ext. 117.
Or log onto the Housing Again Web site at
http://www.housingagain.web.net.
page 4:
National Housing Strategy Day of Action
Wednesday, November 22, 2000
TORONTO......
1pm - Community Meal @ Church of the Holy Trinity
(just behind the Eaton Centre)
2pm - Rally @ City Hall
On November 22 actions across Canada join community
advocates and municipal politicians and representatives
together in a pre-election call to action. Together we will
make a rallying call on the federal government, underlining
the need for a National Housing Strategy to respond to
Canada's homelessness disaster.
The historic National Housing Strategy Day of Action is
co-sponsored by the National Housing Policy Options Team
(NHPOT) of the FCM, whose proposal for a National Housing
Strategy, can be found on the website http://www.fcm.ca,
and the NHHN, representing community advocates fighting
for the One Percent Solution to fund a National Housing
Strategy. Information on the 1% Solution can be found at
http://www.tao.ca/~tdrc.
The City of Toronto has also endorsed November 22nd as the
National Housing Strategy Day of Action and helped to
organize Toronto's event, hosting a community meal for
homeless people and their supporters at the Church of the
Holy Trinity.
A Proclamation from Mayor Mel Lastman will be delivered on
Tuesday, November 21st (time TBA) at a press conference at
City Hall, along with solidarity statements encouraging
Canadians to think about housing during the upcoming federal
election, from cities and towns across the country.
For Information: Kira Heineck, NHHN @ 416-599-8372 or Susan
Shepherd, City of Toronto @ 416-392-5398
Page 5:
National Housing Strategy Day of Action
Wednesday, November 22, 2000
Events across Canada include:
Vancouver - @ 3:00 pm at Library Square. A traditional
welcoming ceremony from the United Native Nations will be
followed by a few speeches and political theatre. Contact:
Linda Mix, Tenants Rights Action
Coalition (TRAC) @
604-255-3099, x226.
Winnipeg - A coalition of community advocates is hosting a
morning press conference - more details to follow. Contact:
Linda Gambee @ 204-944-9408.
London - The Advisory Community Group of the Health Outreach
for People Who Are Homeless, a program of the London
Inter-Community Health Centre (LIHC) are holding an info
picket outside the centre at LIHC. Contact: Tom Appleyard,
LIHC @ 519-660-0874.
Parry Sound - The community and the district are hosting a
"Homes For All" walk through Parry Sound starting at 11:45
a.m. and finishing at the Friendship Centre with a community
meal. Contact: Wendy Stone @ 705-774-9600.
Hamilton - Anti-poverty activists are holding a noon-hour
rally at the campaign office for Liberal incumbent Stan
Keyes.
Contact: Randy Kay @ 905-528-5965.
Kingston - The Low Income Needs Coalition (LINC) is holding
an information picket outside Kingston's MP's office. More
details to follow.
Contact: Tara Kainer @ 613-544-7273.
Ottawa - The Alliance To End Homelessness is working on a
joint regional council and community event. Details to
follow.
Contact: Trudy Sutton @ 613-563-3229, x227.
Montreal - Planning a joint community/city event. Details
to be announced. Contact: Lucie Poirier @ 514-522-1010.
Halifax - There will be a community event. Details to
follow.
Contact: Paul O'Hara, NHHN @ 902-420-0303.
St. John's - There will be a public call for a National
Housing Strategy. Details to follow. Contact: Jocelyn
Greene @ 709-754-2072.
-30-
............................................
Bob Olsen, Toronto [log in to unmask]
............................................
Our Web Sites have information and reports from all of our
Quality of Life Projects!
http://www.utoronto.ca/qol http://www.utoronto.ca/seniors
*************************************************************
In the early hours I read in the paper of epoch-making
projects
On the part of pope and sovereigns, bankers and oil barons.
With my other eye I watch
The pot with the water for my tea
The way it clouds and starts to bubble and clears again
And overflowing the pot quenches the fire.
-- Bertolt Brecht
**************************************************************
Dennis Raphael, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Public Health Sciences
Graduate Department of Community Health
University of Toronto
McMurrich Building, Room 308
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M5S 1A8
voice: (416) 978-7567
fax: (416) 978-2087
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Our Web Sites have information and reports from all of our
Quality of Life Projects!
http://www.utoronto.ca/qol http://www.utoronto.ca/seniors
*************************************************************
In the early hours I read in the paper of epoch-making
projects
On the part of pope and sovereigns, bankers and oil barons.
With my other eye I watch
The pot with the water for my tea
The way it clouds and starts to bubble and clears again
And overflowing the pot quenches the fire.
-- Bertolt Brecht
**************************************************************
Dennis Raphael, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Public Health Sciences
Graduate Department of Community Health
University of Toronto
McMurrich Building, Room 308
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M5S 1A8
voice: (416) 978-7567
fax: (416) 978-2087
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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