WHEREAS the 2008 Federal Budget does not provide for funding to sustain existing housing programs or the establishment of a National Housing Strategy; AND WHEREAS the lack of affordable housing and the incidence of homelessness is a growing and complex problem affecting all British Columbia communities: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge federal and provincial governments which are responsible for providing affordable housing to: - urgently work together to prepare a National Housing Strategy, along with a complementary Provincial Housing Strategy, to provide a comprehensive plan to address housing and homelessness issues over the long term through the provision of an adequate continuum of housing, income and support. - allocate sustained funding, including the use of surpluses and property transfer tax revenue, to support the development and maintenance of affordable housing for those in need, including non-market housing units. - work together to establish incentives for the private sector construction of new rental housing including low income tax credits, GST exemptions, and capital cost depreciation allowances.
Ministry of Housing and Social Development Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Housing continue to discuss changes to the tax system to promote rental housing; how best to support Canadas existing stock of social housing; the housing issues facing First Nations, Mtis and Inuit people; and the need for partnerships with local governments, non-profit groups and the private sector. It has been three years since the last formal FederalProvincialTerritorial meeting was held. Ministers raised these issues when they met briefly on April 2, 2008 in Ottawa with then Minister Monte Solberg, Federal Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Minister Solberg did not provide a firm response to any of the issues raised. At their July 18, 2008 Council of the Federation meeting, Premiers invited the federal government to engage with provinces and territories with respect to housing policies in Canada. Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Housing met October 9, 2008 in Ottawa to continue discussing these issues. Tax Policy: Although the government does not directly allocate property transfer tax revenue to housing and homeownership programs, Budget 2008 builds on the successes of Budget 2007 with an additional 104 million over four years to implement new and expanded measures to help break the cycle of homelessness. Housing Matters BC A Housing Strategy for British Columbia October 2006: Pre-development Costs: 10 million in one-time funding for pre-development costs of city-owned sites to fast-track the construction of supportive housing units. The Province has reached agreements to expedite the approval process with the City of Vancouver 12 sites, Victoria 3 sites, Kelowna 3 sites and Surrey 2 sites. In total, about 1,600 new social and supportive housing units and shelter beds will be created, with construction beginning on about half of them by the end of 2008. Single Room Occupancy and Affordable Housing Purchases: The Province purchased 19 Single Room Occupancy hotels in Vancouver, New Westminster and Victoria totalling 1,122 rooms, helping to preserve this important affordable housing stock for those who need it most, with funding of approximately 69 million. The Province is spending approximately 30 million to begin renovating them this year, and non-profit operators will provide support services to help people break the cycle of homelessness. The Province has also preserved additional affordable housing stock with purchases of apartment buildings and townhouses in Kamloops, Burnaby, Victoria, Surrey, Quesnel and Port Alberni totalling nearly 27 million for 306 housing units. In total, the Province invested nearly 97 million to purchase 30 buildings, protecting and upgrading 1,428 units of existing affordable housing, most of which faced conversion into more expensive forms of housing. Emergency Shelter Program: 78 million over four years to allow emergency shelters to stay open 24 hours a day 7 days a week and to link people to services, including more permanent types of housing. There are now more than 1,500 shelter beds across the province, compared to 850 in 2001. Homeless Outreach Program: 4.2 million per year over 4 years to expand homeless outreach services to 47 communities to connect homeless people to housing and support services. More than 2,500 people have obtained housing as a result of the outreach services. A Vancouver pilot project showed 80 per cent of people housed were able to maintain their housing. The Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program has been established in eight communities, to better connect homeless Aboriginal people with appropriate housing, supports and services. Private Market Rent Supplements: Three million dollars over 4 years to provide an additional 750 rent supplements to help homeless people; The Rental Assistance Program helps more than 6,000 low-income working families with direct monthly cash assistance to help pay the rent, with an average payment of about 350 per family each month. In April 2008, the maximum income eligibility threshold was raised from 28,000 to 35,000. Seniors receive rent assistance through the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters SAFER program. More than 15,700 seniors households receive an average monthly payment of about 150. Thats 3,700 more households since 2001. Subsidized Housing: Since 2001, the Province committed to create more than 13,500 new units of subsidized housing; this includes a commitment to more than 4,000 new and upgraded supportive housing units and shelter beds under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative, through the Premiers Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions. Through the Aboriginal Housing Initiative the Province has committed more than 50 million to create 292 housing units for youth, women, elders, and people with alcohol and drug addictions. Seniors have more opportunities to live independently, as a result of the Seniors Supportive Housing program. 45 million is being provided to upgrade and convert about 900 social housing units to enhance accessibility and improve safety systems. It also introduces support services such as 24-hour response, light housekeeping, meals, and social and recreational activities. To help seniors who need help to continue to live independently, the Province has committed to create more than 4,000 assisted living apartments through the Independent Living BC program. Local Government: Bill 27 2008, the Local Government Green Communities Statutes Amendment Act, among other things, gives local governments the ability to waive or reduce development cost charges for for-profit affordable rental housing, saving thousands of dollars per unit and encouraging the construction of new affordable housing. This ability was previously available only for non-profit rental housing developments.
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Our government is fulfilling its commitment to help those seeking to break free of the cycle of homelessness and poverty with an investment of more than 1.9 billion in housing and homelessness over the next five years. More specifically, we have renewed the funding for the Affordable Housing Initiative AHI, The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program RRAP and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy HPS at current levels for two years from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2011, and will maintain annual funding for federal housing and homelessness programs until March 31, 2014. This funding will ensure we can continue to assist those who need support, including homeless people and those at risk of homelessness such as low-income Canadians, seniors, people with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal Canadians. I am pleased to note that, as at December 31, 2008, more than 900.7 million had been committed or announced under the AHI for the provision of over 41,200 units across Canada, including over 130.3 million in British Columbia for more than 4,300 affordable housing units. Five-year funding for housing and homelessness provides an opportunity to consider improvements to address housing and homelessness challenges, and to ensure that programs continue to effectively respond to the needs of Canadians. Canadas Economic Action Plan announced on January 27, 2009, builds further on this initiative. In total, the federal government will provide up to 7.8 billion of funding over two years through tax credits, grants, and loans, as well as funding to provinces and territories to stimulate our housing and construction sectors, to enhance energy efficiency and produce needed housing for low-income Canadians. This includes a one-time investment of more than 2 billion to build new and repair existing social housing, and up to 2 billion in low-cost loans will be made available for housing-related infrastructure. The existing social housing is part of this countrys social safety net that provides approximately 1.7 billion annually in support of affordable housing to some 630,000 households. A considerable portion of this housing is getting older and is in need of major repairs and upgrading. Our Governments one-time investment of 1 billion in existing social housing will help to bring a number of older projects up to standard. This will improve the quality of life for residents of these communities by keeping their homes safe and affordable, and it will ensure their homes will continue to be available to meet the needs of future generations. Our Government wants to ensure that Canadians on fixed incomes can live with independence and dignity and remain in their communities, close to family and friends. That is why Canadas Economic Action Plan provides 475 million in funding for new social housing for seniors and people with disabilities. We also recognize that housing for First Nations and in the three territories must also be improved, and that is why we are investing 600 million to build new social housing and to retrofit existing social housing in First Nations communities and in Canadas North. As noted, Canadas Economic Action Plan will also make available up to 2 billion over two years in direct, low-cost loans to municipalities through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation CMHC for housing-related infrastructure projects, such as sewers, water lines, and community regeneration projects. These low-cost loans will significantly decrease the cost of borrowing for municipalities, and can be used by them to fund their contribution for cost-shared federal infrastructure programming. As you may know, our Government also committed 110 million to establish five pilot demonstration projects of the Mental Health Commission of Canada across the country, including one in Vancouver. These projects will contribute to our knowledge base and develop best practices to help the most vulnerable Canadian citizens who face complex challenges related to mental health disorders, and as a result often lack basic necessities such as adequate housing. I would also like to mention that, through its Affordable Housing Centre, CMHC continues to offer a broad range of products, services and programs that could help in the development of an affordable housing project. The Affordable Housing Centre has a team of experts on affordable housing that work with groups and individuals to connect them with the resources, knowledge and contacts needed for their affordable housing proposals. More information is available on CMHCs Affordable Housing Centre site at www.cmhc.caaffordablehousing, or by calling toll-free at 1-800-668-2642.