In advance of Vancouver’s municipal elections on October 15th, every political party has released a platform on how they intend to address the housing affordability and homelessness crisis.
The 2021 Census data released in September indicates that British Columbia has the highest rate of housing unaffordability in Canada, with more than 1 out of 4 residents living in housing that is unaffordable. These households are spending more than 30% of their before-tax income on housing. Notably, 44.8% of renters in Vancouver’s primary downtown are living in unaffordable homes.
The municipal election comes at a critical moment, with the cost of rental housing in the city out of reach for almost half of Vancouver’s residents, many of whom continue to deal with the economic instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the City of Vancouver also adopted a long-term growth plan and land use strategy that aims to address some of the factors contributing to the affordability crisis, with the implementation of the Vancouver Plan policy commitments falling to the incoming City Council.
Two recent polls, conducted in August and September, indicate that tackling the housing affordability crisis is a top priority of Vancouverites in this election. In this context, parties across the political spectrum have signalled that housing will be a priority for their candidates, if elected.
While some of the commitments made in these housing platforms fall under provincial jurisdiction, parties have set a broad range of housing policy priorities. Below we offer a breakdown of some of the common themes and commitments made by parties across the political spectrum. This is not an exhaustive listof all housing commitments made in their platforms. We hope that this summary of the housing commitments made in each platform will help voters make informed decisions as they head to the polls on October 15th.
Currently, multi-family rental units such as multiplexes, townhouses and low-rise apartment buildings are banned in 75% of the Vancouver’s residential land, making these neighbourhoods unaffordable to many residents. Research suggests that exclusionary zoning has historically been used to exclude marginalized groups from affluent neighbourhoods – practices that continue to shape who can access neighbourhoods and services in Vancouver today. Several parties have pledged to undertake zoning reform, with the aim of ending exclusionary zoning and creating more affordable and inclusive neighbourhoods across the city:
Affordable Housing Coalition has committed to undertake up-zoning across the city for townhouses and low rises.
Greens have committed to undertake zoning reform to allow mid-rise apartments and missing middle housing, in all neighbourhoods. They have also promised to expand pre-zoning for affordable, non-market housing and rental-only housing in select areas.
One City and Progress Vancouver have committed to ending the apartment ban, allowing 6-storey rental buildings and 4-storey strata buildings to be built throughout the city.
Vision Vancouver has committed to introduce a motion on city-wide zoning reform that will allow low- and mid-rise housing options across neighbourhoods within 90 days of taking office.
Additionally, the Green Party has committed to strengthen access to affordable rental housing by tying the definition of affordability to household income, rather than markets, and changing the definition of social housing used by the City.
Indigenous housing and advancing reconciliation
The Government of Canada has acknowledged that increasing access to safe and adequate housing for Indigenous people is essential to advancing self-determination and reconciliation. However, 2021 Census data highlights that Indigenous people are almost twice as likely to live in overcrowded housing, compared to non-Indigenous people, and that 16.4% of Indigenous people continue to live in dwellings in need of major repairs. Indigenous people are also overrepresented in the population of those experiencing homelessness in Vancouver. Here are some of the key commitments regarding Indigenous housing:
ABC has committed to pilot culturally appropriate, Indigenous-led supportive housing, in partnership with Indigenous people.
Greens have committed to specific targets for building Indigenous housing near public amenities.
Progress Vancouver has committed to support Indigenous-led housing developments, building on the examples of Sen̓áḵw and the Jericho Lands.
VOTE Socialist has committed to end the issuance of construction or demolition permits without the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous nations and to support Indigenous-led efforts to build public housing on City-owned land.
Increasing the supply of market and non-market rental housing
Vancouver’s renter households are struggling to find affordable rental homes due to the shortage of rental housing, in particular rental housing that is adequate for larger families and those living on lower incomes. The 2021 Census data shows that Canadians are less likely to own their own homes as compared to 2011, putting additional pressure on the existing rental supply. This is a concerning trend in a city with a 1.2% vacancy rate – well below what is considered to be a “healthy rental market” vacancy rate of 3-5%. Moreover, low-income renters continue to face lengthy waitlists to access affordable non-market housing through social and supportive housing providers.
Across housing platforms, parties have committed to increase the construction of market and non-market rental housing, prioritizing family-sized units. While some have set specific targets for amount and type of new supply, others have outlined strategies and incentive structures to increase the supply of rental housing. This includes commitments to leverage City-owned land for affordable housing. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the key commitments made across party platforms:
Targeted commitments for new rental housing:
ABC has committed todouble the number of co-operative housing units in four years.
Forward Together has committed to approve and enable the construction of a total of 140,000 housing units that will include private market rentals, rentals with rents below the average market rent, social housing and co-operative housing over the next 10 years.
Greens have broadly committed to increase targets for both rental housing and non-market housing, relative to need.
Progress Vancouver has committed to increase housing targets to 15,000 per year, with 50% rental housing, providing incentives for the construction of purpose-built rentals.
VOTE Socialist has committed toensure that 50% of new housing units built are affordable. They promise to build at least 2,500 units each year for public rental housing with rents tied to household income to guarantee affordability.
In addition, NPA has broadly committed to set targets for housing based on immigration numbers, including targets for rental and workforce housing for middle class households.
Incentivizing the construction or acquisition of market and non-market rental housing:
ABC has committed tochampion the role of non-profits in the delivery of housing. They promise to identify locations to provide density bonusing for non-market housing and refocus development fees to support increased supply of affordable rentals.
AHC has committed to provide funding and incentives to co-operatives to create new rental housing. They also promise to encourage the creation of 3-bedroom units across various housing types.
Greens have committed to increase inclusionary zoning, maximize the use of city-owned lands and buildings to meet affordable housing targets, and work with the province to establish right of first refusal to acquire more housing. They have also pledged to resolve uncertainties around lease renewal for co-operative housing.
NPA has committed to incentivize the private sector to construct more housing. They do not have commitments for the construction of non-market housing or other forms of affordable rental housing.
One City has committed to give social housing an advantage over private market housing developments by allowing them to build higher and faster. They also promise to change the rules to build more 2- and 3- bedroom apartments across different housing types.
Progress Vancouver has committed torenew co-operative housing leases and to work with the insurance industry to facilitate insurance for collective living. They have promised to build more family sized, 2- and 3-bedroom homes.
TEAM has committed toprovide a mix of non-market and private market housing for rental and ownership in partnership with local residents at the scale of each neighbourhood. They promise to use City-owned lands to create more affordable housing options.
VOTE Socialist has committed toestablish right of first refusal to allow the City of Vancouver to purchase residential buildings to convert them into public housing.
In addition, AHC, One City, Vision Vancouver, and VOTE Socialist all committed to transform or revitalize the Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency and empower the agency to build and maintain affordable rental housing.
Streamlining the planning process and reduce barriers to building new housing
Studies have shown that overly strenuous regulations and bottlenecks in the planning and approvals processes can slow down the construction of new housing, increasing costs and decreasing affordability. Several parties have included in their housing platforms strategies to streamline and speed up planning and permitting processes, with the stated objective of increasing the supply and affordability of new housing. Here is a non-exhaustive list of key commitments made:
ABC has committed to impose strict timelines on the permitting process. They also promise to adopt pre-approved building forms for laneway homes.
AHC has committed to establish pre-approved building templates for missing middle homes and shift the permitting process in areas zoned for construction to City Staff.
Forward Together has committed to modernize public hearings and permitting, including through reform of the Vancouver Charter, to expedite the permitting of rental and social housing. They also promise to create new specialized project teams to expedite approvals for major projects.
Green Party has committed to guarantee permit timelines, streamline the permitting process for affordable and non-profit housing construction, simplify the process for permitting additional dwellings and secondary suites, and establish pre-approved building forms.
NPA has committed to impose guaranteed permitting timelines for home construction and explore digital permitting solutions.
One City has committed to delegate some development approvals to City Staff, streamlining the approvals process and removing requirements for public hearings.
Progress Vancouver has committed to establish standardized missing-middle designs, review the permitting application process and impose tight timelines on permitting.
Vision Vancouver has committed to support the removal of public hearings for all below-market housing and impose guaranteed timelines for missing middle builds and home renovations.
Additionally, TEAM has outlined its commitments to continue to conduct ongoing consultations with existing communities in the zoning and development process.
Strengthening renter protections
Vancouver is a city of renters with over half its households living in rental housing. However, renters frequently face housing instability and eviction due to re-development or renovation of rental units. Building on some of the commitments made in Vancouver’s newly adopted Broadway Plan, several parties have pledged to strengthen renter protections and limit displacement resulting from growth and intensification, including commitments to divert new development to lower-density neighbourhoods.
COPE has committed to extend renter protections so that those displaced by renovation or demolition are guaranteed a comparable unit at the same rent and are provided a top-up subsidy for rents in an interim unit. They have promised to legalize tenant unions and establish their right to bargain with landlords. They have also committed to a host of other renter protections, including ending the prohibition of pets in rental units and working with the province to strengthen the Residential Tenancies Act to limit evictions.
Forward Together and Progress Vancouver have committed to extend renter protections across the whole city, including paid relocation of renters if their units are being renovated or redeveloped, providing developer-based subsidies to displaced renters for rent increases and ensuring right of first refusal to return for these renters at the same or lower rent.
Greens have committed to strengthen the enforcement of standards of maintenance for rental housing, expand the City’s Tenant Relocation and Protection Guidelines to rental buildings bought by non-profit housing providers and to strengthen the permitting process to monitor and intervene in cases of renovictions.
OneCity has committed toestablish a Tenant Advocacy Office to advocate for renters facing evictions without proper cause and hold landlords accountable. They promise to end displacement incentives and create a right of return, and providing rental top-ups to displaced renters to ensure they maintain housing. They also promise to legally recognize tenant unions and regulate their relationships to landlords.
Vision Vancouver has committed to realize the Renter Protection Office to offer protections and advocacy for renters. They promise to appoint a Renters’ Advocate to engage with City Hall and address renovictions and rental housing shortages.
VOTE Socialist has committed toimplement renters’ right to return at the same or lower rents, as well as the right of first refusal and vacancy control tied to units. They promise to end evictions for any residents living in units that cost less than 80% of market rate unless immediately provided with comparable alternate housing. They also promise to establish the rights of renters to organize and collectively bargain in apartment buildings or corporate-owned properties.
Stabilizing rents
As mentioned, the recent 2021 Census data shows that almost half of renters in Vancouver are living in unaffordable homes. Currently, rent control in British Columbia is tied to the renter, meaning that landlords can raise rents by any amount between renters. This means that affordability challenges are particularly severe for those trying to find a new rental home. Several parties have pledged to work with other levels of government to stabilize rents.
AHC has committed to impose vacancy control.
COPE has committed to regulate rent increases between tenants (impose vacancy control) through a Landowner and Landlord Registry program. They also promise to establish a Rent Control Board that will work toward a “roll-back” of rents to 2017 prices.
Forward Together has committed to add permanent vacancy control to some new rental units to ensure they remain 20% below CMHC’s average city-wide rent for the building life.
Greens have also committed to impose vacancy control.
OneCity has committed toadvocate for rent control and ensure future public assistance goes directly to renters. They also promise to maintain a registry of historic rent prices to increase transparency on rent hikes.
VOTE Socialist has committed to require landlords to disclose the previous tenant’s rent to the new tenant. They also promise to implement a four-year rent freeze on City-owned rental properties.
Countering housing speculation and stabilizing land prices
With some of the most expensive housing prices in Canada, Vancouver’s housing and the land it sits on is often treated as an investment opportunity. This has led to rampant housing speculation, inflating the cost of land and housing. Several parties have committed to leverage policy and taxation tools to curb housing speculation and stabilize land prices.
ABC has committed tosupport the Empty Homes Tax and initiate a review to better identify residents unintentionally captured by this policy.
AHC has committed to implement an appreciation tax on land sales and impose a progressive property tax on the most valuable lots.
Forward Together has committed tomaintain the Empty Homes Tax at a minimum of 5%.
Greens have committed to strengthen enforcement of the Empty Homes Tax and short-term rental bylaws.
One City has committed to leverage available revenue tools to capture increased land value to reinvest in affordable housing and neighbourhood amenities. They also promise to work with the province to implement a Land Value Tax.
Progress Vancouver has committed toenact a progressive Luxury Homes Surtax and to maintain the Empty Homes Tax.
TEAM has committed tostabilize land values by ending inflationary and disruptive spot zonings that ignore neighbourhood plans without contributing to community amenities.
VOTE Socialist has committed to increase residential and commercial property tax to achieve parity with other Canadian cities. They also promise to support higher property taxes on ownership of more than two properties and strengthen enforcement of short-term rental bylaws.
Progress, NPA, ABC and Greens have committed to reform current Community Amenity Contributions (CAC) to increase transparency and predictability.
Supporting unhoused residents
The City of Vancouver has reported that on a given night, there are 2,000 people in the city experiencing homelessness, while around 7,000 more are at risk of homelessness, meaning they are living in housing that is precarious or insecure. Notably, these numbers are from 2020 and do not reflect the destabilizing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or the effects of ongoing upward pressure on rents and the closure of several Single Room Occupancy (SRO) buildings in 2022, one of the key sources of housing for people living on low-incomes. While longer term strategies to increase affordable and supportive housing are essential to respond to the crises of housing affordability and homelessness, several parties have also committed to provide immediate support to those experiencing homelessness across the city. Here are some of the key commitments:
COPE has committed to provide water and sanitation facilities and allocated space for renters on Hastings Street, and fund peer organizations to maintain safe spaces – in the immediate term. They have pledgedtocoordinate across levels of government to start acquiring hotels, empty apartment buildings or tiny homes in the medium-term, to provide dignified housing to unhoused people. In the long-term, they promise to plan for thousands of new units of dignified housing by leveraging City-owned land.
Greens have committed to fast-track tiny home communities in empty lots for people experiencing homelessness, improve existing shelter options, strengthen the provision of wrap-around services and staffing in Supportive Housing Units, and provide 24-hour access to water and sanitation facilities for people experiencing homelessness. They have promised to work with the province to expedite the replacement of SROs.
One City has committed to build temporary modular housing on public lands to immediately house those at risk of or experiencing homelessness while permanent housing is found.
Progress Vancouver has committed to work with other levels of government to buy private SROs and renovate them into public social housing over the longer term and to advocate for an increased shelter assistance rate. They have promised to use vacant land to operate temporary emergency outdoor shelters, increase resources and accessibility of women’s shelters, increase access to public washrooms and build Supportive Social Housing outside of Downtown.
VOTE Socialist has committed to stop the eviction of encampment residents, establish short-term emergency shelters in government-owned buildings and parking areas, and to stop the enforcement of parking bylaws that criminalize residents living in vehicles. They have also promised to purchase all privately owned SROs and renovate them to better provide short-term emergency and affordable housing.
Disclaimer: This list represents a summary of many of the key commitments on housing made by parties running in Vancouver’s 2022 Municipal Elections. This should not be considered an exhaustive list of all commitments made. Please refer to the housing platforms shared at the top of this article for a comprehensive overview of each platform.
The latest developments in housing policy from across Canada:
On September 21, Statistics Canada released its 2021 census data on housing, which found that the proportion of people living in core housing need fell from 12.7% in 2016 to 10.1% in 2021 due to rising incomes. While this may demonstrate that people are struggling less with housing affordability, adequacy and suitability, the situation is much more complex. In terms of affordability, shelter costs increased by 17.6% between 2016 and 2021 for renters while homeowners experienced an increase of 9.7%. At the same time, income supports targeted to lower income communities during the pandemic such as CERB have likely played a role in improving housing affordability in 2021. That said, one in five renters spend more than 30% of their income on shelter costs.
The data also showed that renters are disproportionately impacted, with twice the number of renters experiencing core housing need in large cities like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver compared to homeowners. In addition, three times as many Indigenous people lived in houses that are in need of repairs compared to the general population even as housing conditions for Indigenous communities have improved since the last census period.
Notably, homeownership rates have declined over the last five years. While the greatest decline is seen amongst younger adults aged 25 to 29, the trend of declining homeownership rates is expected to continue. Finally, provincial variations show that British Columbia has the highest rate of unaffordable homes at 25.5% with Ontario next at 24.2%.
On September 13, the federal government announced it will more than double its Budget 2022 commitment to provide $500 in housing benefits in addition to the existing one-time rental supports offered under the Canada Housing Benefit program. At a cost of $475 million, the government says the benefits will reach 1.8 million people. In addition, the government announced a $200 million investment in a five-year rent-to-own program under the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund. As part of a larger $2 billion investment to create up to 17,000 homes in Canada, these funds are to be used in helping housing providers create rent-to-own models. In this arrangement, first time homebuyers who are struggling to secure a mortgage have the option of building up equity through paying a portion of their monthly rent towards a down payment with the intention of eventually purchasing the unit. Experts note that the program may make housing more accessible but not necessarily more affordable.
Tenant advocates in Nova Scotia have raised concerns around fixed term leases as vacancy rates remain low and as housing affordability has become a chronic problem across the province. Current tenancy laws allow landlords to offer tenants a “fixed-term” lease with a start and end date with no automatic renewal. Landlords can choose not to renew the lease without any explanation, effectively terminating the tenant’s lease and leaving them with no recourse. Advocates have cited increasing instances of such lease terminations in light of a temporary two percent rent cap introduced by the provincial government in 2020. Since landlords are free to increase the rent without any restrictions for new tenants, there is an added incentive for some landlords to evict existing tenants who are on a fixed-term lease. Advocates are calling for more effective regulations that require landlords to offer tenants a new lease after the original lease expires, to make the rent increase guideline permanent and to add rent increase regulations to the unit instead of the tenant.
New Brunswick’s rent increase regulation of 3.8% introduced in January 2022 is set to expire in December. Tenant advocates fear exorbitant increases could lead to economic evictions of tenants who are unable to pay the rent increase. ACORN New Brunswick is calling for an overhaul of the Residential Tenancies Act, to ban renovictions and make rent control permanent and to tie rent increases to the unit as opposed to the tenant. They explain that these forms of rent control would help to disincentivize evictions.
PEI’s government is vowing to fight the decision made by the independent Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission to set the annual rent cap for 2023 at 5.2% for unheated rental units and 10.8% for heated rental units. This is the largest allowable hike on record since 1989. Since 2014, the rent cap has varied between one to two per cent. Over 200 tenants and 65 landlords made submissions to the Commission before the decision was made and there is great disappointment that the needs of tenants were not reflected in the final decision. Stronger protections for tenants in the Residential Tenancies Act alongside a more comprehensive housing strategy is needed to help renters stay in their homes and have access to secure rental housing.
Plusieurs arrondissements Montréalais sont dans le processus d’introduire des mesures pour interdire la reconversion des résidences pour aînés en autre chose que du logement social. Cette requête fait suite à une motion passée par le Conseil de la Ville, qui en appelle au gouvernement provincial pour introduire un moratorium de un an sur la conversion des résidences pour aînés en blocs appartements. D’autres locataires ont amené les propriétaires en cour après qu’ils aient été sommés de quitter les lieux. Cependant, un représentant des propriétaires s’est plaint que leur décision de convertir ces résidences est justifiée par l’incapacité de ces operateurs à gérer la flambée des prix et les barrières administratives. Il n’existe pas de mesure d’aide telles que le crédit sur la taxe municipale. Un des maires d’arrondissement suggère que c’est la province qui devrait établir des solutions à long terme qui conviennent à tous.
Pendant ce temps, la nouvelle administration de Hampstead a adopté un règlement qui oblige les promoteurs souhaitant faire des rénovations d’obtenir d’abord un permis. Ils peuvent l’obtenir en démontrant que le logement est vacant, ou dans le cas contraire, que le locataire donne son accord pour les travaux et que des alternatives lui sont offertes. Cette décision représente un changement radical par rapport à l’administration précédente, qui n’était pas favorable de telles mesures.
Several Montreal boroughs are in the process of introducing measures to forbid seniors’ residences from being converted into anything other than social or affordable housing. This follows a motion passed by Montreal’s City Council to call for the provincial government to introduce a one-year moratorium on converting seniors’ residents into apartment buildings. Other residents have taken their building owners to court after they were asked to move out. However, a representative for owners of seniors’ residents complains that the move towards conversion is a result of operators’ inability to handle escalating costs and red tape. There are no relief measures such as a municipal tax credit. A borough mayor suggests that it’s up to the province to come up with a longer-term solution that works for everyone.
Meanwhile, a new administration in the upscale suburb of Hampstead in Montreal has adopted a bylaw that will require developers who want to do renovations to first get a permit. They can obtain this by showing that the unit is vacant or if the tenant has agreed to the renovations in writing and that alternative living options or other arrangements have been provided to the tenant. The move is a departure from the past administration which was not supportive of such protective measures.
According to Toronto Public Health Data, deaths among people experiencing homelessness spiked from 128 in 2019 to 221 deaths in 2021. In the last six months, 92 people have died with more than half of those deaths attributed to drug toxicity. An advocate for people experiencing homelessness is sounding the alarm and calls out the deepening housing crisis and the City’s approach to clearing encampments as factors that have driven many into isolation. Toronto Public Health noted that it has integrated harm reduction into City-based shelters and expanded mental health supports to 12 shelter hotels, and will continue to advocate for expanding these services.
York Region’s council voted to ask staff to come up with a plan and draft bylaw to discourage property owners from leaving their homes vacant. As the benchmark house price reached about $1.3 million in June, the proposed policy would bring much needed supply into the housing market and could raise between $13.4 million to $26.8 million in revenues to help address the housing crisis. In fact, 88% of the public who were recently surveyed in the region supported the measure. Next steps will involve figuring out what exactly is defined as a vacant home and which of the nine municipalities in the region the policy would apply to.
A report released by Smart Prosperity Institute applied a refined benchmark to effectively validate projections made by the Ontario Housing Affordability Task Force that the province will need to build 1.5 million homes over the next ten years. Furthermore, 48% of the demand for housing will come from Peel Region, York Region and the City of Toronto. However, these projections are 500,000 units higher than forecasts made to inform the provincial Growth Plan. This is a significant mismatch; surrounding communities may experience spillover demand as families look for more affordable options. While there are other projections available, such as CMHC’s significantly higher estimates, a more comprehensive plan to address bottlenecks to housing construction and the building of the right type of housing to meet varied housing demands is a priority.
About 60 units in two new supportive housing complexes remain vacant in Edmonton, while a local housing agency, Homeward Trust, is working to understand how to best operate these units without the funding support it needs from the province. The homes are expected to house people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges and are part of 5 other projects funded by the City of Edmonton and through the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative. In addition, three hotels are in the process of being converted to offer 243 more units. Provincial reluctance to support these housing options has left the housing agency without supports and as a local Councillor notes, it is important to provide supportive housing as a longer term option which is more cost effective than emergency shelter responses.
As part of a variety of measures to tackle inflation, the B.C. government has announced that rent increases will be capped at 2% in 2023. While rent increases were frozen in 2021 because of the pandemic, earlier caps have been tied to inflation. The maximum allowable increase for the coming year has disappointed tenants advocates. Tenant advocates fear the cap may incentivize landlords to evict tenants and substantially increase rents for newer tenants given that the rent caps are only applied to tenants, and not the unit. They say stronger vacancy control legislation is needed to complement the current rent caps.
The federal government has provided a $1.4 billion loan to Vancouver’s Squamish Nation to help finance the construction of 3,000 homes in Sen̓áḵw, lands that were recently reclaimed by the Squamish Nation. The loan from CMHC, the largest in Canadian history, will finance the first two phases of a four-phase project that will eventually consist of 6,000 rental units and 1,200 homes. The terms of the CMHC loans have received criticism for not including more stringent affordability criteria. However, the Squamish Nation’s Council Chair has noted that without the loan it would not have been feasible to construct any rental units. Other developers also explain that under current economic conditions and with additional costs stemming from requirements such as meeting efficiency standards, adding more rules could disincentivize them from applying for rental construction loans. Nevertheless, under the current agreement, 20% of the new rental developments in the first two phases will be below market rents but may not provide the deeply affordable rental housing that the community needs.
The City of Vancouver and the Hogan’s Alley Society have reached an agreement to create a community land trust and a mixed-use redevelopment at a site in Strathcona, in downtown Vancouver. The Hogan’s Alley neighbourhood was home to Vancouver’s Black community during the first half of the twentieth century. However, city officials neglected to maintain the basic infrastructure of the neighbourhood and over the course of the 1960s, the area was demolished to make way for an overpass as part of a general trend of “urban renewal” across North America that displaced many Black communities to accommodate expansion of transport and other infrastructure. The Community Land Trust is the latest move in attempting to redress such injustices through taking land out of the private market and placing it in the hands of the community to be used as a resource to serve “vulnerable members of our diverse city community.”
A Yellowknife resident living next to a social housing building has struggled to navigate the housing system and lodged his complaint about persistent instances of domestic violence and disruption in a particular unit. The conditions and procedures to evict a tenant living in social housing can appear to be very restrictive and convoluted, potentially precluding people from protecting themselves from possible harm. While protections for tenants are also necessary, conditions for evictions overlook plausible grounds such as domestic violence while the review process entails many layers, eventually subject to the discretion of a court judge. Housing authorities were not very responsive when questions about these bottlenecks.
Canada’s growing housing crisis has prevented many households, particularly those living on lower incomes, from finding and keeping an adequate, accessible and affordable place to call home. As rents continue to soar and affordable housing options dwindle, it’s crucial to protect the few affordable housing options that are available.
Rent subsidies are a much-needed tool that governments use to help ensure lower-income households can afford a home. However, in Ontario, social housing landlords have the power to revoke a tenant’s subsidy in some circumstances – for example if a person has not provided the correct paperwork. This power held by these landlords is discretionary – meaning that, even if there are grounds to do so, they can choose not to revoke a subsidy. This is an important choice which can have tremendous consequences for households who are living in poverty and who likely do not have the means to secure an affordable home without a subsidy. A household that cannot afford an unsubsidized rent could face eviction due to the inability to pay a higher rent, and their eviction could also lead to homelessness.
Given the potentially catastrophic consequences when a person loses their rent subsidy, the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) is deeply concerned about an Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) tenant, Charlas Mackenzie, who lost his rent subsidy. In 2019, OCH chose to revoke Mr. Mackenzie’s subsidy because of minor reporting errors. In making its decision, OCH chose not to consider Mr. Mackenzie’s circumstances when deciding whether revoking his subsidy was reasonable or fair, nor whether losing his subsidy would likely render him homeless or separate him from his young children.
Since losing his subsidy, Mr. Mackenzie has appealed OCH’s decision, with no luck in reversing it to date. On September 20, 2022, the Ontario Court of Appeal will hear Mr. MacKenzie’s appeal, and the Court has granted CCHR intervenor status because of our expertise in human rights in housing. This status will allow CCHR to present arguments during the appeal hearing to promote Mr. MacKenzie’s right to housing and the rights of his children. We will assist the Court by arguing that OCH should have exercised its discretion in a way that was consistent with the right to housing and the rights of the child.
Since OCH’s decision to revoke a subsidy will effectively evict Mr. MacKenzie, CCHR will argue that, under the requirements of the right to housing – which Canada recognizes in the National Housing Strategy Act (NHSA) and various international human rights treaties – OCH should have considered whether eviction was a necessary and proportionate response to a minor issue, and whether the issue could have been resolved without resorting to eviction. CCHR will also argue that, under the rights of the child, OCH should have considered the impacts of its decision on Mr. Mackenzie’s children.
The Court’s decision will set an important precedent for households living in social housing across Ontario. We hope that CCHR’s intervention will help establish that social housing must be managed in a way that respects tenants’ human rights.
The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) will now be known as the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR).
Although our name has changed, our mission has not wavered. Since 1987, our organization has been working to transform lives by advancing the right to housing for all. Over the last 35 years, we have passionately advocated for the people and communities that we serve, guided by our vision of a world where everyone has an adequate, affordable and accessible place to call home. In recent years, we have expanded the work we do to advance systemic change through policy advocacy, research, education and training across Canada.
As we mark this 35-year milestone and look toward the future, we are taking the opportunity to embrace this moment by transitioning our organization’s name so that it better reflects who we are and what we do today. The need for adequate, accessible and affordable housing has never been greater in Canada, and we remain as dedicated as ever to advancing the right to housing of Canadians.
The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights will continue to advocate and work tirelessly for those in greatest housing need across Canada in collaboration with housing advocates, nonprofit organizations, and people with lived experience of housing precarity. As we enter this new era for our organization, we will strive to accomplish our goals in new and expanding ways while staying true to our vision and values. Although our name has changed, our mission will always be to advance the right to housing for all.
It is a privilege to continue serving communities across Canada as we go forward under a new name.
With appreciation,
Annie Hodgins, Executive Director, on behalf of the whole CCHR team.
In this new phase we will work to advance the right to housing across Canada in the following ways:
Government of Canada nearly doubles funding to address rise in homelessness The Government of Canada announced increased funding for Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. Launched in April 2019 with over $2 billion in funding, August’s announcement will increase the Strategy funding to nearly $4 billion. CCHR called on the government to enhance supports for people experiencing homelessness as well as in our 2022 Budget Submission and we hope the increase helps reach the National Housing Strategy goal of cutting chronic homelessness in Canada by 50%. We will continue to advocate for changing the definition of homelessness to include the experiences of women and gender-diverse populations so the Reaching Home fund can support ending hidden homelessness in Canada.
The National Housing Council makes recommendations to advance the right to housing in Canada The National Housing Council, an advisory body created through the National Housing Strategy Act, released its interim report on how the federal government can fulfill its housing rights obligations, based on consultations with people with lived and living experience of housing need and homelessness, as well as organizations who support them. The NHC outlines five high-level recommendations for the federal government: to incorporate right to housing language in all key government activities; to shift housing policy and programs to a rights and needs-based design with an intersectional, GBA+, anti-discrimination, decolonization and human-rights based approach; to prioritize a separate, fully-funded ‘For Indigenous, By Indigenous’ process of implementing the right to housing for Indigenous peoples; to define clear measurements for progress; and to better coordinate between different levels of governments.
Big investors may be looking to Canada’s home market In the United States, investment firms have become the biggest buyers of new homes in the country, which has reduced housing options for middle-income earners looking to buy a home and contributed to rising rents. Some real estate experts believe that Canada’s housing market may soon become a target for private equity investors. There is a lack of data about the size of private equity investment in Canada’s homeownership market, though Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) hold a large percentage of the multi-family rental market. In some provinces, individuals who own more than one property hold as much as 41 per cent of all residences. The financialization of housing, where homes are increasingly becoming used to increase investments of financialized actors, is a significant driver of the current housing crisis across the country.
NOVA SCOTIA
Affordable Housing Commission claims progress in Nova Scotia housing crisis The Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission released its last report, detailing the progress made by the province in addressing the need for affordable housing. The Commission says that 50 of the 17 recommendations and 60 actions in the 2021 report have been completed or are close to completion. The 2021 report recommendations were the result of a public consultation process involving surveys, workshops, and engagement with academics, community organizations, and housing experts. Despite the apparent progress advocates in the province are calling on their governments to stop forced evictions, support those experiencing homelessness and address the growing housing crisis.
New housing resource centre to help address housing needs of Black community The Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission released its last report, detailing the progress made by the province in addressing the need for affordable housing. The Commission says that 50 of the 17 recommendations and 60 actions in the 2021 report have been completed or are close to completion. The 2021 report recommendations were the result of a public consultation process involving surveys, workshops, and engagement with academics, community organizations, and housing experts. Despite the apparent progress advocates in the province are calling on their governments to stop forced evictions, support those experiencing homelessness and address the growing housing crisis.
QUEBEC
Utiliser les revenus du cannabis pour vaincre l’itinérance, un bon pari? Le conseil municipal de Lachine a adopté une motion appelant la Province à accroitre le financement des services en itinérance en réinvestissant une partie des profits provenant de la Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC). Le maire de Lachine a déclaré que les $3 millions en financement provincial pour les infrastructures de soutien sont insuffisants pour résoudre la crise de l’itinérance dans l’arrondissement. Les ventes de la SQDC sont en hausse continue, avec des profits enregistrés de $75 millions en 2022, contre $66 millions en 2021 et $26 millions en 2020.
[English]Montreal’s Lachine borough proposes homelessness funding come from cannabis sales Montreal’s Lachine borough council passed a motion calling on the province to increase funding for homelessness services by drawing from revenue from the province’s cannabis retailer, the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC). The Lachine mayor argued that the $3 million in provincial funding for public works is insufficient to tackle the ballooning homelessness crisis in the borough. The SQDC’s sales have continued to rise, with profits of $75 million reported in 2022, from $66 million in 2021 and just $26 million in 2020.
Vivre en Ville publie un index de solutions pour contrer la crise du logement au Québec Vivre en Ville – une organisation à but non-lucratif œuvrant pour le développement urbain durable à Montréal – a récemment publié un rapport détaillant des solutions ciblées pour contrer les causes profondes de la crise du logement qui sévit à travers la Province. L’index Portes Ouvertes indique que près de 200,000 ménages québécois dépensent plus de la moitié de leurs revenus pour leur logement – le manque d’options abordables est exacerbé par le fait que les taux de vacance demeurent très bas, et 57% des unités de logement nécessitent des réparations majeures. L’index offre plusieurs recommandations, tournées vers la de-financialisation des marchées du logement, la taxation des projets du marché privé, l’accroissement du stock de logement social, la création d’un secteur de la construction résilient et la mise en place d’actions collectives pour faire face au « pas dans ma cour », ou NIMBYisme.
[English] Montreal organization, Vivre en Ville, releases index of solutions to Quebec housing crisis Vivre en Ville, a research and education non-profit that works on sustainable urban development issues in Montreal, released a report detailing solutions to the housing problems plaguing the province. The report notes that almost 200,000 Quebec households spend more than 50% of their income on rent, area municipalities have very low vacancy rates, and a staggering 57% of units in Montreal are in need of major repairs. Portes Ouvertes recommends the de-financialization of housing markets, increased taxation of private developers and providers, increasing social and non-profit housing supply, the creation of a sustainable building sector, and action to prevent NIMBYism.
ONTARIO
New provincial legislation gives mayors of Toronto and Ottawa new powers The Ontario government passed contentious legislative changes that give the mayors of Ontario’s largest cities new powers, arguing that they are needed to address the housing crisis. The ‘Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act’ allows mayors to veto their City budget and override bylaws approved by City Council that “interfere with a provincial priority.” Councillors in Ottawa and Toronto can reverse a mayoral veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
Almost half of shelter-seekers turned away in Toronto A study of central intake data from the City of Toronto between November 2020 and June 2022 found that nearly half of people seeking shelter (24,556 individuals) were turned away. The majority – 81% of cases, were turned away because no shelter space was available at the time. In 16 per cent of cases, there was no space available that met the person’s needs, including for accessibility. The study questions the City’s position that there are enough shelter beds in Toronto to support those experiencing homelessness, including residents of encampments.
Housing advocates call on municipal candidates to take the Affordable Housing Pledge Right to Housing Toronto, a network of individuals and organizational supporters including CCHR that advocates for the City of Toronto to adopt a human rights-based approach to housing, is asking candidates for City Council to take the Affordable Housing Pledge. By taking the Pledge, candidates commit to deepen the City’s housing investments and ensure new homes are accessible to all, preserve existing affordable rental housing, ensure tenants have an active voice in the maintenance of their homes, expand eviction prevention supports, and facilitate ‘gentle densification’ of existing neighbourhoods.
MANITOBA
Manitoba government increases social assistance for the first time in years The Manitoba government announced a ‘Family Affordability Package’ to ease the burden of inflation of Manitobans. The package includes $63 million for families with children who earn less than $175,000 but also earmarks $16 million for seniors earning less than $40,000; both groups will receive a one-time payment. People living on Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) will receive a small increase to their Basic Needs Benefit amounting to about $8 million; EIA recipients without children will get $50 more per month and EIA disability recipients will get another $25 per month. The increase is the first raise in social assistance rates in years. Advocates called for a larger increase to ensure EIA recipients can afford rising rents and other expenses necessary to live a dignified life.
ALBERTA
Alberta government expands temporary rent assistance program: The Alberta Government has expanded rental assistance to more households across the province. The Temporary Rent Assistance Benefit (TRAB) will now include more than 80 communities across Alberta. The TRAB offers eligible Albertans a minimum of $100 per month to help them cover their rent payments.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Human Rights Commissioner calls for ‘social condition’ protections After the attacks on people who are homeless in BC, including the murder of two people in July, the B.C. Human Rights Commissioner repeated her calls to include ‘social condition’ in the Human Rights Code as a protected class. This would prohibit discrimination based on economic condition, including housing status, employment (or lack of), source of income and other factors. Several other provinces and territories include social condition in their human rights codes, including Manitoba, New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories and Quebec.
City of Vancouver faces legal setback in setting limits on SRO rent increases The B.C. Supreme Court quashed new bylaws created by the City of Vancouver which limited rent increases between tenants in single occupancy housing (also known as SROs). The new rules are meant to stabilize rents in single-room occupancy housing where those with the lowest incomes live by limiting rent increases on turnover relative to the rate of inflation, depending on the existing rent. The judge ruled that the City bylaw was outside the authority of the City of Vancouver to implement and that the Residential Tenancy Act governs residential rents in the province. The City is appealing the decision.
YUKON
Yukon government release Draft Housing Plan In response to a scathing Auditor General report that criticized the Territorial government’s response to housing need in the territory, the Yukon government released a draft housing plan. Data sharing and collaboration are priorities for the government, including better coordinating access to affordable housing. The plan has yet to be finalized, and the government says it will consult with First Nations, Indigenous organizations, municipalities and both for and not-for-profit housing organizations. Advocates called on the government to address the private rental market in addition to the social housing system, and to act with the urgency the local housing crisis requires.
FEDERAL
Canada needs to build more affordable housing for newcomers With a low national birth rate and high labour demand, immigration is more important than ever to support growth in Canada’s economy. However, the findings of an SSHRC-funded study indicate that newcomers to Canada are struggling to find places to live. Currently, the combination of modest population growth, housing financialization and increased housing demand is rapidly driving up prices, a lethal combination for newcomers. Priced out of the ownership market, many are left renting units that are overcrowded and inadequate. The research calls for immediate action across levels of government to increase housing supply and affordability, including units that can accommodate larger families.
More Canadians are living with roommates, census shows The latest round of census data from Statistics Canada shows that roommate households have grown faster than any other housing arrangement since 2001, particularly among those ages 20 to 34. The data also indicates that while there are fewer one-family households, there are more multi-generational households than before. Overall, the data shows a changing picture of young adulthood in Canada, something Statistics Canada connects with rising housing costs. While a record 4.4 million people lived alone in 2021, this trend is least prevalent in Ontario, a province with above average housing costs and a proliferation of young adults living with their parents. See CERA’s analysis of the new census data.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
N.L.’s housing crunch is leaving renters ‘desperately’ looking for a place to live A lack of availability and affordability are two problems facing prospective renters, with the rising cost of living taking larger chunks from people’s pay cheques. As a result, St. John’s is seeing a rise in families experiencing homelessness, something that has historically not been an issue. As a result, there are no agencies in the city that specifically deal with family homelessness. Advocates worry that the situation may get worse due to a dramatic decrease in the province’s rental vacancy rate since 2020.
NEW BRUNSWICK
More than 250 N.B. public housing units sit empty on average each month, despite wait list Despite increasing need, affordable housing units across New Brunswick are sitting empty. In June 2022, the province had 227 vacant public housing units, nearly six per cent of its total inventory. Another 133 units were vacant under the rent supplement program, where private landlords receive money to subsidize tenants’ rent based on household income. At the same time, the province’s wait list for affordable housing has grown from about 5,000 households at the end of 2019 to 8,194 households. The reason for the high vacancy rates may be in part due to gaps in funding to undertake maintenance and repairs of vacant units.
NOVA SCOTIA
Nova Scotia says it won’t try to justify housing discrimination against people with disabilities Following a ruling from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission that the provincial government’s failure to offer “meaningful” access to housing for people with disabilities amounted to a violation of their basic rights, the government has committed to negotiating a remedy. Advocates welcome this move after concerns that the government might refer to Section 6 of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act to exempt itself from the ruling. Hearings before the human rights board of inquiry to establish remedies for this case are scheduled to begin in October 2022.
ONTARIO
Ontario planning to bring in ‘strong mayor’ system for Toronto and Ottawa Premier Doug Ford is planning to embolden the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa with broader U.S. style powers while diminishing the sway of city councillors. The province is expected to table the legislation during a summer session of the legislature. The provincial government argues that expanded mayoral power could help address the housing shortage in major cities and get development approved more quickly. While Toronto’s Mayor John Tory has come out in support of the move, housing advocates have voiced skepticism if expanded mayoral powers will translate into a more effective response to the housing affordability crisis and concern over how this could impact local democracy.
Toronto is looking to all levels of government to address rising rents and curb renovictions Toronto’s top housing official has called on the province to tie rent control rules to residential units, rather than the tenants who inhabit them — arguing the change could help curb the financial incentive for landlords to evict long-term renters. Paired with initiatives undertaken at the municipal level, these changes would increase security of tenure by disincentivizing renovictions and other predatory practices by landlords. Earlier this month, Toronto City Council voted in favor of a Renoviction Policy to guide the development of a new by-law to preserve affordable and mid-range rental housing in the city and deter renovictions. CERA recommended that, while the policy directions are promising, further details are needed to understand the full application and impact of the City’s approach. This month, CERA also provided recommendations on Council’s proposal on Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods and its recent Land Needs Assessment.
MANITOBA
Winnipeg needs much more affordable housing to combat homelessness: advocates Advocates for Winnipeg’s residents who are experiencing homelessness say that without more efforts to create and offer low-income and affordable housing in the city, more people will experience homelessness. Two years after releasing their own strategy to combat and understand homelessness, End Homelessness Winnipeg (EHW) says that they continue to see high numbers of people in the city living on the streets and seeking emergency shelter. While emergency shelters offer temporary support, they do not address the core issue: the number of people in need of affordable housing in Winnipeg far outstrips what is available. More affordable housing is urgently needed to meet demand, including low-income, low-barrier, Indigenous-led housing options.
SASKATCHEWAN
City Mayors calling for a review of the province’s social housing program Mayors from Saskatchewan’s cities are calling for a review of the province’s social housing program, specifically its eligibility criteria, as thousands of affordable housing units sit vacant. The City Mayors’ Caucus released a media announcement calling on the Provincial government to address the chronic gap between community needs and available housing supply.
ALBERTA
Students look for accommodation with University of Calgary residences already full With university residences full and limited housing availability in the city, the University of Calgary Students Union is looking for alternative housing options for students. The president of the Students Union is urging Calgarians to consider renting a room to a student this fall. “The current rental market is tight and what’s available often costs more than what students can afford: this is an access and affordability issue.”
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Indigenous Housing Providers in BC are redefining options for supportive housing, with notable results Research funded by CMHC and SSHRC has explored the transformative impact of culturally appropriate supportive housing for Indigenous people transitioning out of homelessness. The Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) opened British Columbia’s first Culturally Supportive Housing in 2020. Its Dual Model of Housing Care (DMHC) provides both culturally supportive housing and decolonized harm reduction. Going beyond housing provision, they provide pathways to healing rooted in culture, land-based programming and family reunification. The model aims to address some of the systemic barriers Indigenous people face when accessing supportive housing, providing a more culturally appropriate pathway to healing and housing stability.
Vancouver City Council approves land-use strategy for a more “equitable, livable, affordable and resilient” city For the first time in the city’s history, Vancouver has developed a “comprehensive direction” for future growth that is coordinated with other levels of government. The approved Vancouver Plan introduces a new way for the city to grow by allowing more housing options across all neighbourhoods, while restoring ecosystems and building more transit-oriented communities. It commits to significantly boost the supply of social and supportive housing and support Indigenous-led housing and wellness projects. In its submission, CERA recommended that Council use the Plan to expand robust renter protections across the city, facilitate non-profit and social housing development, and open all neighbourhoods to diverse housing options, including low rise apartments. These recommendations have been taken up by Council in the adopted Plan.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
It’s time for Indigenous-led solutions to public housing in the North Advocates argue that Indigenous peoples should have more authority to make decisions when it comes to housing in their communities, in line with Canada’s promises of Truth and Reconciliation, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and other commitments. Nowhere is this more evident than in the north, where public housing does not meet community needs. Under the current system, if northerners move south in pursuit of higher education – something they are frequently forced to do with limited educational opportunities locally – they are removed from public housing waitlists and will not have access to affordable housing upon return. Public housing policies also lack cultural sensitivity by banning pets and prohibiting home based businesses, while the system fails to account for Indigenous cultural practices around multi-generational housing, leading to frequent overcrowding. The solution is a greater control by Indigenous Communities of the public housing system and culturally appropriate service provision.
FEDERAL
The Federal Housing Advocate is now accepting submissions on systemic housing issues in Canada The Office of the Federal Housing Advocate has launched an online tool to accept submissions from communities impacted by inadequate housing and homelessness from across Canada. By sharing their experiences of housing precarity and inadequacy, communities can help inform the Advocate’s recommendations to the government to improve Canada’s housing laws, policies and programs. This is a keyway that communities can participate in driving change and advancing the right to housing for all.
Two submissions on systemic housing issues facing women and gender-diverse people have been delivered to the Federal Housing Advocate On June 14, theWomen’s National Housing & Homelessness Network and the National Indigenous Feminist Housing Working Group delivered two submissions to the Federal Housing Advocate on systemic housing issues experienced by marginalized women and gender-diverse people. The submissions outline how the failure to invest in affordable housing violates women and gender-diverse people’s right to equality and right to housing. They highlight how the National Housing Strategy is failing those who are impacted the most by the housing crisis – Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit persons; single mothers living on low-incomes; women with disabilities; Black and racialized women and gender-diverse people; newcomers and refugees; and many others who face intersecting forms of marginalization.
Ontario has set the 2023 rent increase at 2.5 per cent The provincial government has set the maximum amount a landlord can raise the rent for an existing tenant at 2.5 per cent in 2023, which is double the amount set in 2022, and the highest amount since 2013. Usually, the government ties the rent increase amount to the Ontario Consumer Price Index, which would have pushed the 2023 amount to 5.3 per cent. The government said that it limited the increase to help protect tenants from significant increases, however advocates say that the 2.5 per cent figure is still too high. The rent increase guideline applies to most renters in Ontario who are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act. However it does not apply to vacant units, community housing, long-term care homes, or units that were first occupied after November 15, 2018.
Toronto’s Rent Bank program is now permanently grant-based On June 16, Toronto City Council voted in favour of converting its Rent Bank program to offer grants on a permanent basis, moving away from their previous repayable loans model. This move will help lower income residents cover deposits or pay their rent. Several advocates expressed their support for this move while encouraging the City to consider strengthening the program in the future. CERA recommended that the City increase funding and make the eligibility criteria more inclusive, while also protecting the existing stock of affordable housing and creating new affordable housing options for lower income residents to reduce the need for rent relief in the long run.
SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatchewan expands its housing benefit program but advocates say that gaps remain The Saskatchewan Housing Benefit is now available to renters who pay 35 per cent or more of their pre-tax housing income on rent. The benefit amount and asset eligibility limit have also been increased, and rent limits have been removed. The government says that these changes will allow more low-income households to receive the benefit. However, advocates say the expansion does not go far enough as several vulnerable groups remain ineligible to receive support, including people who receive other government assistance, residents in social housing programs, sponsored newcomers, and post-secondary students.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Vancouver approves a plan to increase density along its Broadway corridor After weeks of consultation, Vancouver City Council has passed its “Broadway Plan”, which proposes to increase the density and variety of housing types in the area, including affordable housing, around an important transit hub. Several details in the plan have been deferred to the next Council which will be elected in October 2022. However, some important elements have been passed, including measures to protect existing tenants and prevent them from being displaced from their neighbourhoods.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Gwich’in communities will be consulted on how a federal housing and infrastructure investment should be spent The Gwich’in Tribal Council is planning to consult Gwich’in communities to hear their priorities for how $25 million should be spent to address their critical housing and infrastructure needs. Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik welcomed the investment while highlighting that much more is needed in their communities where the housing needs are at a critical level, and infrastructure needs alone could cost $100 million. Another $42 million will be invested in Tłı̨chǫ communities, where Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty says 35 per cent of homes are in need of major repairs. The investments are part of the federal government’s Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund.
FEDERAL
New CMHC report examines how housing supply is impacting affordability across Canada The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)’s new Housing Supply Report shows that even though some of Canada’s largest cities are building more rental buildings, overall housing starts have not kept pace with population growth in these cities. CMHC claims that this is the biggest issue affecting housing affordability, both for homeownership and rental housing. However, housing researcher Steve Pomeroy warns that simply increasing supply will not bring prices down, and lower-income residents continue to be squeezed out of the market. The solution will lie in increasing the right supply of housing and enacting regulations to maintain affordability levels.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Advocates say that New Brunswick’s proposed changes to tenancy law don’t go far enough to address the housing crisis The New Brunswick Coalition for Tenants Rights says that the province’s proposed amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act to cap rent increases at 3.8 per cent should be a permanent measure, rather than the current proposal to remove the cap by the end of 2022. The Coalition and opposition parties also urged the government to amend the bill to address loopholes that allow landlords to increase the rent beyond the cap, and strengthen tenant protections against renovictions and lease terminations. The Standing Committee on Economic Policy is currently studying the proposed legislation, and it is expected to receive royal assent in June.
Fredericton releases Draft Affordable Housing Strategy with 13 key recommendations The City of Fredericton has developed a Draft Affordable Housing Strategy, based on an assessment of residents’ housing needs carried out in 2021. The strategy outlines 13 recommendations to increase affordable housing by increasing City staff capacity and expertise to address issues, revising zoning bylaws, supporting community housing organizations and projects, providing land, exploring taxation tools, requesting provincial support and legislative changes, and collaborating with other municipalities on similar issues. The City has sought public feedback, and the strategy will be presented to City Council in June.
QUEBEC
New bill proposed to strengthen protections for seniors from being evicted The Quebec Solidaire opposition party has proposed legislation to prevent the eviction of seniors over the age of 65 who have lived in the same apartment for more than five years. This would change the current rule that prevents eviction of seniors over 70 who have lived in the same unit for 10 or more years. Advocates say the bill should be further strengthened to also prevent seniors’ residences from being converted into regular rental units.
ONTARIO
Affordable housing is a top issue during Ontario’s provincial election All of Ontario’s main parties made various election campaign promises to address the province’s affordable housing crisis. While all parties say they would prioritize boosting the supply of housing, the parties diverged on a range of issues impacting renters. Many advocates – including CERA’s Director of Policy and Communications, Bahar Shadpour – emphasized the need to prioritize Ontarians in greatest need and protect the province’s current affordable housing stock.
Hamilton votes to add inclusionary zoning to the City’s Official Plan Hamilton’s Planning Committee voted unanimously in favour of adding inclusionary zoning in the City’s Official Plan, to require that housing developments built along the City’s upcoming Light Rail Transit (LRT) route set aside a portion of units to be affordable.
The Region of Peel is setting up a working group to design its inclusionary zoning system Peel Region will establish a working group to design the region’s inclusionary zoning system, which is expected to create 200 new affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income households each year. The administration of the system will be managed by the Region of Peel, and the working group will be looking into how to set up various aspects of the system including the resale of affordable units, regulating access, ensuring their long-term affordability, and matching residents with units.
ALBERTA
Calgary considers launching a Housing and Affordability Task Force and Housing Security Commission Calgary’s Executive Committee has approved a proposal that the City of Calgary should look into setting up a Housing and Affordability Task Force which would recommend how to increase, measure and manage affordable housing across the city. The Committee also supported looking at different Housing Security Commission models to work with supportive housing providers, emergency shelters, and the provincial and federal governments – among other partners – to improve housing outcomes for people seeking supportive housing. Council will consider these two items in early July.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Indigenous housing organization calls on the federal government to fund its Indigenous housing strategy The Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) – which oversees Indigenous housing and service providers in B.C. – says that over 20,000 Indigenous housing units are needed over the next 10 years. AHMA is calling on the federal government to invest $7.3 billion to implement a strategy to build and repair housing that is culturally appropriate for Indigenous people across the province.
Victoria City Council delays passing its “missing middle” housing initiative On May 26, Victoria City Council voted to refer a proposed “missing middle” housing initiative back to City staff to conduct another round of public engagements, despite the initiative having received majority support during a previous round of public consultations. If passed, the initiative would rezone single-family lots to allow for more diverse housing types, which could help create more affordable housing options. Advocates expressed concern that the delay could cause this initiative to not be passed.
YUKON
Auditor General finds Yukon has made little progress on housing in over 10 years A new report by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) has found that the Yukon government has not acted upon recommendations made by the OAG in 2010 to address long-standing housing issues in the territory for those in greatest need. Among other issues, the report found that the wait list for community housing has steadily grown, wait times are longer, and the most vulnerable communities needing support are not being prioritized. The report includes a new set of recommendations directed to the Yukon Housing Corporation and the Department of Health and Social Services to address these issues.
Whitehorse’s draft Official Community Plan focuses on housing issues The City of Whitehorse is seeking public input on its Whitehorse 2040: Official Community Plan which identifies the city’s land use planning and development priorities for the next 20 years. With a growing population, the plan focuses on increasing density in existing neighbourhoods and expanding housing in new subdivisions. The draft plan is set to be presented to City Council in August.
NUNAVUT
Nunavut’s budget includes a focus on housing investments The Nunavut government has tabled its 2022-2023 budget which includes an increased amount for housing developments, as the government aims to build 1,000 new units over the next four years. The government also indicated that it is open to using some of its surplus to tackle Nunavut’s housing shortage, and that plans are underway to possibly increase spending on housing incrementally during the government’s mandate.
The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights is proud to offer an innovative model that delivers rights-based educational training to supportive housing providers, frontline workers, peer supporters, and renters.
When renters who live in supportive housing know their legal rights, and supportive housing providers have the legal know-how to uphold those rights, together they build healthier and more resilient communities.
We offer the following two training and capacity-building models to introduce renters and supportive housing providers to the right to housing framework and rental housing laws:
Workshops for housing providers. The aim of this programming is to build legal competency, awareness, leadership and accountability around accessibility and equity issues to improve support services and uphold the rights of renters. Participants will be provided with ongoing support to apply their learnings in practice.
Workshops for renters. The aim of this programming is to empower renters to build knowledge about their rights and how to assert them. Renters will develop their capacity to navigate rental housing laws and systems so that their tenancies are more stable and successful. Participants will be provided with ongoing support to apply their learnings in practice.
Ontario is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, which has become increasingly widespread over the past five decades. Much of this crisis is a result of reduced government investment in affordable housing. Many lower income individuals have been bearing the brunt of the crisis, paying unaffordable rents and having little left to save for a rainy day or to pay down their debts. In the past two years, the affordable housing crisis has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic putting more pressure on lower income households to make ends meet.
This timeline provides an overview of some of the key housing issues faced by communities across Ontario and how governments have responded to these issues over the past 50 years, including a detailed look at how the pandemic has exacerbated existing issues. It shows that, as investments in affordable housing have dwindled, housing insecurity has grown – especially among the most vulnerable communities.
Given the complexity of the crisis, this timeline is not an exhaustive representation of the many challenges experienced by different communities, nor of all the ways that governments have responded in the face of these challenges. Instead, this timeline is meant to provide an overview of some of the key housing issues that have shaped housing outcomes for Ontarians.
1970s – The height of affordable housing investments
During the 1970s, governments became increasingly involved in the housing sector. The Fraser Institute noted that housing policy was used as a vehicle for income redistribution, and governments began to acknowledge that housing is a fundamental right. In 1973, the then federal Minister of Urban Affairs stated that the government had “adopted the basic principle that [housing] is the fundamental right of Canadians, regardless of their economic circumstances, to enjoy adequate shelter at a reasonable cost.” The following year, the Ontario Ministry of Housing also acknowledged that adequate and affordable housing is a basic right for all.
This decade saw the introduction of a number of important affordable housing policies and protections by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. These governments introduced subsidized housing for low-income households, financial assistance for renters and cash grants for homebuyers, and adopted rent control policies and amendments to the Landlord and Tenant Act.
1980s – The cutbacks begin
The Government of Ontario began playing a leading role in managing and funding social housing in the province. Federal investments began to decline during this period. However, the majority of federal investments that remained were directed to subsidize housing for households in core housing need.
Housing co-operatives – which saw a boom during the 1970s – also continued to grow during this period.
1990s – Cutbacks become more drastic
The federal government ended its co-operative housing program in its 1992 budget, after building nearly 60,000 affordable homes for low- and moderate-income households, and froze investments in social housing the following year.
In 1999, the federal government shifted the responsibility of administering and funding social housing to provincial governments. In Ontario, this was done through the signing of the Canada-Ontario Social Housing Agreement.
The Government of Ontario devolved the responsibility for funding and administering existing social housing to municipal service managers, but retained responsibility for supportive housing.
2010s – The crisis deepens, but housing commitments begin to emerge
Throughout this decade, the number of affordable housing units in Ontario decreased, while the number of luxury condos with higher rents increased, resulting in the further decrease of Ontario’s affordable housing stock.
In 2011, the Ontario government passed the Housing Services Act which set the policy direction for the province and provided service managers with more control over the administration and provision of social housing and homelessness services.
After years of housing advocacy across Canada, the federal government launched its National Housing Strategy (NHS) in 2017. The NHS is a 10-year plan that initially invested $40 billion into various housing initiatives, with most of the funds earmarked to be spent in later years.
As calls for a commitment to the right to housing grew in Canada, the federal government passed the National Housing Strategy Act in July 2019, which recognizes the right to housing (including affordable housing) as a human right in domestic legislation. The Act created mechanisms such as the Federal Housing Advocate and the National Housing Council to monitor the government’s implementation of the right to housing through its funding commitments.
In April 2019, the Ontario government released its Community Housing Renewal Strategy to repair, sustain and grow the community housing sector.
In December 2019, the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario signed the Canada – Ontario Housing Benefit, a bilateral agreement to invest jointly to provide a portable housing benefit to support Ontarians in housing need.
2020s – Crisis upon a crisis in the pandemic era
March 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns began in March 2020. Advocates began to push for an eviction ban as renters lost their jobs and income. In response, on March 17, the Ontario government announced an eviction moratorium in the province which halted new eviction notices from being served – except in certain safety-related circumstances – and postponed the enforcement of scheduled evictions until further notice.
April 2020
Data emerged showing that women were bearing the brunt of the impacts of the pandemic, as their job losses accounted for more than twice the number of losses experienced by men. Nearly half of jobs lost by women were part-time and low-paid roles.
Encampments began to emerge in cities across Ontario as many people experiencing homelessness chose to sleep outdoors due to fears of contracting the virus in overcrowded shelter spaces and social distancing requirements in shelters significantly reducing capacity.
July 2020
The Ontario government passed Bill 184 which made several amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act that made evictions easier for landlords to obtain in some circumstances.
August 2020
The eviction moratorium was lifted on August 4, 2020 and the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) received thousands of eviction requests as it began to hear cases again and moved its processes online for the first time.
The federal government launched the Rapid Housing Initiative as part of the government’s National Housing Strategy (NHS) and pandemic response, an initiative that dedicated $1 billion to create up to 3,000 new affordable homes across the country for residents in the greatest need.
December 2020
As LTB hearings resumed, numerous complaints emerged of tenants facing technical issues connecting to their online hearings, or missing notices that their hearing was taking place.
In consultation with over 120 housing advocates and people with lived experience of homelessness from across Canada, the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) and the National Right to Housing Network (NRHN) submitted a proposal to the federal government for a Residential Tenant Support Benefit to address the evictions and arrears crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 2021
The federal government faced criticism for the types of housing investments they were making, due to some programs creating unaffordable rental housing.
The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres encouraged Ontario policymakers to adopt an Indigenous lens to address the housing crisis, by reimagining housing through a holistic understanding of prosperity, belonging, well-being and reciprocal relationships.
The Ontario government met with municipalities to discuss ways to address the growing housing crisis, emphasizing its position that increasing the supply of all types of housing will help to address housing need.
February 2022
Ontario’s Housing Affordability Task Force released a report with recommendations about how to best combat the province’s housing affordability crisis, focusing on increasing the supply of market housing. Several groups pointed out that simply increasing supply will not address affordability issues. CCHR highlighted that Ontario’s strategy should also focus on creating and preserving deeply affordable housing, and ensure that the province’s diverse communities are engaged in the development of housing solutions that meet their needs.
Housing was among the top areas of investment in the 2022 federal budget, with an expansion of the Rapid Housing Initiative as well as the introduction of the Housing Accelerator Fund. The budget fell short in responding to the urgent housing needs of those most impacted by the housing affordability and homelessness crisis.
The 2022 federal budget signaled a renewed commitment to cooperative housing programs through the allocation of $500 million in funding and $1 billion in loans to a new Co-operative Housing Development Program.
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