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= BB OPINION “AFFORDABLE HOUSING ESSENTIAL TO CANADA'S RECOVERY E PANDEMIC HAS SHED 2A LIGHT ON HOUSING § INEQUALITIES, 2 WRITES EDEN 2 GRODZINSKI Since the onset of the = pandemic, most of us have & been spending a lot more g time at home. © Rarely has the nature of these homes been more im- ing in Canada. Some of our neighbours endured lockdowns in large homes with plenty of living space, idscaped gardens and pools, while others strug- gled in unsafe and over- crowded conditions with no outdoor areas. We know that safe and EDEN GRODZINSKI Column decent housing has the prosperity of our commu- nities, by supporting stable employment, better physi- cal and mental health out- St cass | fo educational oppor- But all toofrequently for families) with low income, it since March 2020, we've witnessed how poor hous- ing conditions, such as overcrowding and high Office: 905-452-7272 hardest by the pandemic ur most vulnerable populations. Did you know?: + One in 10 Halton resi- dents are in core housing need. Going into the CO- VID-19 pandemic, 17,500 households in Halton re- gion (9.4 per cent) had a a least one major proven relating fous over rowding, affordability or poor quality (Communit: Development Halton, 2018). Halton has some of the highest rental rates in the province. In 2020, the aver- age apartment rental rate in the region was $1,582 — the highest of all regional market rates in Ontario, in- cluding Toronto (CMHC Rental Market Survey, 2020). + Housing prices in Hal- ton have become, for many, unattainable. The average resale price of a home in Halton region was $913,615 in 2020 (Real Property Solu- 0 1000001 “AL LEPAG| Vendex Realty, Brokerage [Q muiuiunmmunt = !dependently Owned & Operated GEORGETOWN GEM! Neatly nestled on a beautifully landscaped private lot, this exceptional 4 bdrm exec h fl w/ dble sided gas fireplace, modern eat-in & kitchen w/ granite cntrs & S/S appliances. 4 terrific sz bdrms w/ two stunning baths, prof fin bsmt perfect for entertaining, ultra private backyard with warming hot tub & so much more... Homes of this distinction are seldom. found in todays market! cutive ft ceilings, stately fam rm $1,399,900 ie | theifp.ca tions House Price Index), and it has only continued to go up. According to mort- gage calculations done by the Ontario Ministry of peter Affairs and this option is af- beable he the top 10th percentile of all income earners (i.e. households e 7,000 or more will your children be able to afford a house in Halton? + Workers earning less than $20.75 per hour are liv- ing in financial stress. Ear- esta the Ontario rates, which represent the minimum income neces- sary for a worker to meet their basic needs ood, housing, and transporta- tion). At $20.75 per hour, Halton's is the sec second high: est in the pro’ in in farge part by by I housing iat for Humanity THE ROUT! For details on the PARADE ROUTE and how to make a DONATION visit WATCH ANYWHERE ALONG Halton-Mississauga-Duf- ferin (Habitat HMD) is working hard to address the urgent need for innova: tive solutions across the housing spect building Tiny collaboration vith our In- digenous partners a creat- new equity bi and affordable “ome ownership options for fam- ilies S. As we approach Nation- al Housing Day (Nov. 22), Habitat HMD is going “Be- yond the Build,” and we want you to join us. On #NationalHousing- Day, show your support for asing the supply of af- housing in our sential to a successful so- cialand economic recovery from COVID-19. + Shop. visits one of our Restores in Burlington, Milton, Missisonnes and Orangeville. + Volunteer. There are so many ways you can get in- . Learn more at hittps://habitathm.ca/vol- unteer/. + Donate money. 100 per cent of every dollar you give goes to support our building programs. * Donate gently used, re- salable soods. Instead | of tossing household items clothes, donate them to Habitat. You will help save the planet and help us cre- ate affordable housing. Vis- it https://habitathm.ca/ donate./#donate-stuff for more information. + Identify land opportu- nities. Help us identify any abandoned or un- derused land or properties that could be repurposed fora affordable housing. iveryone deserves a de- cont place to call home. To- gether, we can build a stronger future for the next generation. Eden Grodzinski is the CEO of Habitat for Hu- manity Halton-Mississau- ga-Dufferin. She can be reached at www.habi- tathm.ca.