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A I HSE fe tap YS 28 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, September 5, 1990 Candidates discuss affordable housing The following questions on af- fordable housing were submitted to gll five Durham East riding candidates by the Durham Region- Access to Permanent Housing Committee. Some of the responses have been edited by the Star for the sake of brevity. Q. Do you believe decent, affor- dable housing is a basic human right? ) Marilyn Pearce, Liberal Party -- es Gordon Mills, New Democratic Party -- Yes Kirk Kemp, Progressive Conser- vative -- Yes Tim Crookall, Family Coalition Party -- Yes Harry Tunbridge, Confederation of Regions -- Yes Q. Do you think the Provincial Government has a role to play in the provision of affordable ren- tal/ownership housing? Marilyn Pearce -- Yes Gordon Mills -- Yes Kirk Kemp -- Yes Tim Crookall -- Yes Harry Tunbridge -- Yes Q. Do you believe it is the com- munity's responsibility to ensure the well-being of its citizens? Marilyn Pearce -- Yes Gordon Mills -- Yes Kirk Kemp -- Yes Tim Crookall -- Yes Harry Tunbridge -- Yes Q. Why do you think people ex- perience homelessness? Marilyn Pearce -- Housing supply and affordability continue to be major issues of concern to the Liberal Government. Despite the current high rate of house building in Ontario over the past couple of years, the province is still confronted with low vacan- cy rates in rental housing. In a number of major urban areas, and a continuing demand for af- fordable housing for home owners. A number of demographic trends have impacted on housing affordability. Major factors in- clude a dramatic increase in the number of single person and single parent households across Ontario and our rapidly aging population. The resultant in- crease in demand for affordable units, and the slow down in supp- ly have contributed significantly to the shortages faced in most parts of the province. The Liberal Government is committed to a comprehensive, long term housing policy for On- tario, designed to ensure that all residents have access to adequate shelter at reasonable costs. Gordon Mills -- Lack of non- profit and co-operative housing programs. Low wages and being squeezed by big rent increases imposed by the Liberals' rent review system. Kirk Kemp -- People ex- perience homelessness because of a number of reasons: (a) Lack of available affordable housing; (b) Lack of income due to poorly paid employment (i.e. the "work- ing poor"' (c) Lack of income due to unemployment (d) Lack of income due to disability Tim Crookall -- 1. High cost of housing; 2. Lack of family sup- port; 3. Lack of self esteem (in some cases). Harry Tunbridge -- We have a "Poverty Trap' created by our Insane tax system and social structures. The trap or Catch 22 1s sprung when circumstances are against the individual. "If you have money we'll lend you some. If you have none we can't." Q. What principle factors do you think have created the hous- ing crisis? Marilyn Pearce -- Since 1985, the Liberal Government has pro- vided assistance to meet impor- tant housing problems left un- touched by the previous Conser- vative government, and ag- gravated by the province's recent growth pressures. Gordon Mills -- Since the Liberals came to power in 1985, the waiting list for financially assisted housing have almost doubled, from 21,000 to 41,000 families. In its most recent budget the Government failed to announce a single new program to help build affordable non-profit and co-operative housing. Kirk Kemp -- The housing crisis has been principally caus- ed by a lack of affordable accom- modation which in turn may be blamed on the high costs of bring- ing residential lands to the hous- ing market. Speculation, ex- cessive servicing costs and delays caused by bureaucratic 'red tape" all contribute to inflated land costs which are then translated into intimidating " residential retial costs. Additionally, residential developers in the private sector have been slow to bring higher density units to the housing market. Tim Crookall -- 1. House and Land Speculation which has driven up housing prices; 2. Ur- ban centralization of business and industry which has driven up prices in urban areas; 3. A reduc- tion in the number of rooming houses, etc. offering lower cost housing. Harry Tunbridge -- Bad plan- ning and pressure groups. The developers were paid back for their help in funding the provin- cial government and the little guy suffers. You know as you see it first hand. ) Q. What do you feel is the most effective way of solving the hous- ing crisis and how would you im- plement it? Marilyn Pearce -- Since 1985, the Liberal Government has pro- vided assistance to meet impor- tant housing problems left un- touched by the previous Conser- vative government, and ag- gravated by the province's recent growth pressures. Ontario experienced a boom in public and private housing con- struction in the 1960's. However, the poor record of the Conser- vative government during the late 1970's and early 1980's reflects their clear failure in addressing the issue. In 1982, Ontario had the lowest number of housing starts in sixteen years. In fact, in the 1984 Conservative Budget, not one program was anriounced to ad- dress the critical housing needs in Ontario. The economic growth ex- perienced by Ontario in the late 1980's brought with it a whole new set of challenges in providing housing for the large in-migration of people into the province from other provinces and countries. The Liberal Government has met these new challenges by allocating over 66,000 new non- profit units, through the $500 million Home Ownership Savings Plan, through the government's Housing First policy to build 4,000 units of affordable housing on government land, and by streamlining the approvals pro- cess for housing developments and by providing more money for Infrastructure such as sewer and water facilities and road construction. Gordon Mills -- Build affor- dable housing on so-called "surplus" government land. A housing policy which would en- sure that new housing is built for families of all income ranges, not just the wealthy. Introduce a pro- perty speculation tax. Introduce rent controls that provide real protection. Rents to increase once a year based on inflation only. A commitment to build 20,000 affor- dable homes each year. Kirk Kemp -- The provincial government must work with both federal and municipal authorities to reduce the cost of bringing ser- viced residential lands to market; those bureaucratic delays which "inflate land prices must be minimized. Additionally all levels of government must encourage innovative residential designs (for example who not a "Habitat"' in Durham Region?) and organizational models (for exam- ple, co-operative housing). As well, governments must better educate the public regarding the sorts of innovations which I have mentioned, so as to encourage a broad basis of public support for such innovative projects (i.e. to avoid the "not-in-my-back-yard"' syndrome). I believe it is the responsibility of the Member of the Provincial Legislature to act as a catalyst for the sorts of reforms I have suggested. Tim Crookall -- 1. Housing in- dustry must be encouraged to build modest and affordable hous- ing. 2. Municipalities, through land use zoning, must provide for a broad range of housing. 3. Low * cost, long term mortgages for non-profit groups. 4. Decen- tralization of business & industry to areas where housing costs will be lower. Harry Tunbridge -- I would need to write a book! 1. Find out "what" and "how deep the pro- blem is." 2. Get public involve- ment -- set up teams in various areas. 3. Make a 5-10-15 year plan -- as agreed by all involved. 4. Budget. 5. Action in six months. Note: Food and cover is the basic need and right of all Canadians. Q. What are the impacts of the lack of affordable housing in Durham Region? (e.g. family stress, high labour costs) Marilyn Pearce -- There is no single answer to the need for' housing. The Liberal Government has implemented a comprehen- - sive, long-term package of in- itiative to meet Ontario's housing needs: - Homes Now is the largest non- profit housing program in On- tario's history and will create 30,000 non-profit homes. - The $500 million Ontario Home Ownership Savings Plan (OHOSP) will Help 250,000 On- tarians save their first home. - The Liberal Government's Hous- FY DU STUN SU IEONT PLINY PVE PLIST I TE PL "ing First policy is building over 4,000 affordable housing units on government land across Ontario. The Liberal Government will build new communities featuring more affordable housing on government land in Seaton and Markham. - The Liberal Government's rent review legislation has introduced important new protection for tenants: - the banning of 'key money"; - the extension of rent review to all rental units; - the establishment of a rent registry to verify legal rents; - the requirements that the landlords involve tenants in the timing, nature, and cost of renovations; - the Rental Housing Protection Act has given municipalities the ability to pre- 'vent the demolition or conversion to condominiums of their rental housing supply; - the implementation of the Policy Statement on Land Use Planning for Housing will require 25 per- cent affordable housing in municipal planning approvals. Gordon Mills -- Being forced to rely on food banks. Family breakups. Wife abuse, child abuse stress. People have to put ~ off dental visits due to all money being spent on housing. No fami- ly holidays. Long hours of work at minimum wages to even afford the rent. Kirk Kemp -- Families forced to cope with the lack of affordable housing face severe stresses resulting in marriage breakdown, spousal and . child - abu.e, alcoholism and drug abuse, lessened productivity, and a poor Jdearning environment for the children of such families. Tim Crookall -- 1. Many families are forced into a two in- come situation which makes rais- ing children and family units more difficult. 2. Inflation. Harry Tunbridge -- Rooming type accommodation - slim crea- tion - crime - abuse, etc. The young must be able to afford housing. We (the Province) have taxed both business and in- dividuals into. bankruptcy. The crime wave will hit us hard very spon. Q. Residential intensification (l.e. accessory apartments and infilling) is the cheapest way to create affordable rental housing. How would you ensure local municipalities co-operate to the fullest to create this type of housing? Marilyn Pearce - not answered Gordon Mills - not answered Kirk Kemp -- Municipalities must be persuaded and if necessary, legislatively man- dated to accept higher density residential developments. Addi- tionally, the provincial govern- ment must not under-estimate the importance of educating the general public as to the desirabili- .. ty of such initiatives; communi- ty acceptance is essential. Tim Crookall -- 1. Local bylaws must allow for adequate housing to meet the needs of the communi- ty's residents. 2. Residents of ren- tal housing 'must be required to respect the property they are ren- ting and the rights of neighbours. Harry Tunbridge -- If we stop- Py ped spending money to prove to the world how "good" we are, we could afford to do it the correct way and build affordable housing. Note: We spend $2.3 million a day in Ontario on bilingualism!!! Canada $7.7 billion since 1979. Calculate how many homes, retirement units, etc. Q. The Ontario Government's Homes Now Program, announced in 1987, allocated 30,000 non-profit housing units over three years across Ontario. Should there be a follow-up program? If so, how many units do you think should be created to meet the present demand? . Marilyn Pearce -- not answered Gordon Mills -- Yes -- 50,000 Kirk Kemp -- There should most definitely be follow-up pro- grams to address the lack of af- fordable housing. I must be can- did in confessing that I do not know the precise number of addi- tional non-profit housing units re- quired at this time, however I quite willingly commit myself to - working with all parties concern- ed to meet the demand for affor- dable housing. Tim Crookall -- Adequate hous- ing must be a priority in the pro- vincial budget. Developing affor- dable housing must be a priority over subsidization whenever possible. Those receiving benefits must be encouraged to take part in management of co-ops, etc. and must be assisted towards self- sufficiency. Yes there should be a follow-up. The number of units should be sufficient to meet the need. : Harry Tunbridge -- We should control the influx of immigrants to the housing availability and rot just throw these people into poverty. We should work to create surplus units in all major towns and cities. Q. Will you work to ensure fun- ding for Access to Permanent Housing Committees and projects continues? If so hy? Marilyn Pearce -- not answered Gordon Mills -- The New Democrats are committed to stop making working families being treated as a speculative com- modity. They want affordable, permanent housing as a right. I will fight, if elected to Queen's Park, to make sure they count. Kirk Kemp -- It will certainly be a high priority of mine, if elected as M.P.P. for the riding of Durham East to work with the Durham Region Access to Per- manent Housing Committee to provide affordable housing in our area, and for that matter, throughout the province. I will work co-operatively with all public and private sector con- cerns to access the necessary resources to ensure that deceat affordable housing becomes more than just a hollow human right, but an actual reality. Tim Crookall -- Yes we will within the means at our disposal through the political system. Harry Tunbridge -- By using Jou people. You can beat the ureaucrats by coming up with a programme and using your MPP. If I am elected I would not forget the time when I was homeless!!! I know the feeling. ! | / A ------------------------------------------------------------------------LLL