Advocates call for province to make housing a priority in 2024 budget
A local coalition is calling on the provincial government to make housing a priority in its next budget.
The province is in the midst of budget consultations for its 2024 financial blueprint, and the Right to Housing Coalition is pushing for a fund to add 1,000 social housing units.
They would be geared towards income and owned by the public, non-profit and co-op housing providers.
Also on the wish list - a capital maintenance fund created to ensure no existing units are lost due to disrepair, plus funding to ensure social housing tenants have access to support workers.
"We're hearing about all the financial challenges, and so we're really worried that social housing is going to be, you know, moving down to the bottom of the pile, while other things are being attended to. We think that's a real big mistake,” said Shauna MacKinnon, the coalition’s spokesperson.
The priorities were taken from the coalition’s social housing action plan, which was released in the fall.
The Right to Housing Coalition is also calling on its supporters to contact the province and request significant investment in social housing in this year’s budget.
McKinnon says she’s seen governments come and go, and many look to the private sector for solutions to the housing crisis.
“Let’s just admit that this is not going to be the solution for people who are in lowest income households,” she said.
“Let’s just do the investment we need to create the housing that we need, that’s low-rent housing, that’s rent geared towards income, maintain the supply that we have and then provide all the other supports that people need.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario to ban use of cellphones in school classrooms starting in September
Ontario is introducing a suite of measures that will crack down on cellphone use and vaping in schools.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Cybersecurity expert weighs in on the possibility of a U.S. ban of TikTok
Anyone who has a Gen-Z person in their life is likely familiar with the popular social media app TikTok, but a new bill in the U.S. may soon take it off of the American market.
Have you heard the one about Trump? Biden tries humour on the campaign trail
U.S. President Joe Biden is out to win votes by scoring some laughs at the expense of Donald Trump, unleashing mockery with the goal of getting under the former president's thin skin and reminding the country of his blunders.
'Do not consume': Gift Chocolate recalled due to undeclared milk, soy
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall for a specific chocolate brand sold in Ontario and Quebec.
Quebec to invest $603 million to protect the French language
Quebec is investing $603 million over the next five years to counter what its French-language minister describes as the decline of the French language in the province.
Murder charge laid after man falls to death from Toronto apartment balcony
One person has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of a man who fell from a balcony following an altercation inside a Toronto apartment building.
Ukraine's army chief reports tactical retreat in the east, and warns of front-line pressure
Ukraine's troops have been forced to make a tactical retreat from three villages in the embattled east, the country's army chief said Sunday, warning of a worsening battlefield situation as Ukrainian forces wait for much-needed arms from a huge U.S. aid package to reach combat zones.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.