[homeles_ot-l] Fwd:] WI backgrounder: Three key housing facts - Ontario has highest housing costs, lowest provincial housing investment, worst municipal downloading

[Terrie]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Shapcott <Michael at wellesleyinstitute.com>
Date: 2009/7/21
Subject: ] WI backgrounder: Three key housing facts - Ontario has highest
housing costs, lowest provincial housing investment, worst municipal
downloading
To: SDOH at yorku.ca


 As the Ontario government’s province-wide consultations for a comprehensive
provincial housing plan open the first of three sessions in Toronto this
evening, here are three housing facts to consider:

*Highest housing costs:* Ontario has the highest housing costs of any
province (median household shelter costs of $10,878, according to Statistics
Canada). One in every three Toronto households spends 30% or more of their
income on housing – the worst record among metropolitan areas across Canada.
High housing costs for low, moderate and middle-income households means less
money for other necessities such as food, medicine, energy, childcare,
transportation, clothing, education… High housing costs are the single
biggest reason why more than one million people were forced to line-up at
Toronto’s food banks last year (Source: Daily Bread Food Bank).

*Lowest provincial investment:* Ontario has the worst record among all the
provinces in terms of affordable housing investments. In the fiscal year
ending March 31, 2009, Ontario spent $64 per capita on affordable housing,
about half the provincial average of $115 per person (source: Wellesley
Institute calculation based on Statistics Canada Government Revenue and
Expenditures database). At the head of the provincial pack are Saskatchewan
($214 per capita – almost three and one-half times greater than Ontario),
Nova Scotia ($175) and Alberta ($154). On March 12, 2009, the Alberta
government announced a $3.2 billion, 10-year housing plan. Ontario’s housing
plan is not expected until late 2010 or 2011.

*Biggest municipal downloading:* Ontario, more than any other Canadian
province, downloaded the cost of affordable housing to local government. In
the most recent fiscal year, the provincial government invested $829 million
in affordable housing – only two-thirds of the $1.3 billion invested by
municipalities (source: Statistics Canada Government Revenue and
Expenditures database). Cash-strapped Ontario municipalities have limited
revenues sources (mostly property taxes, grants from senior governments and
fees), which means that there’s little ability on the part of municipal
governments to grow housing investments to meet the growing housing needs
across the province.

The Housing Network of Ontario has an on-line
hub<http://tinyurl.com/nspnrm>with detailed information about the
Ontario housing consultations. The
official Ontario government consultation site is
here<http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page6395.aspx>
.

-          Michael



***



*Michael Shapcott** **| Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation |
** **Wellesley Institute** *

45 Charles St E, Suite 101                    Tel: 416.972.1010 ext 231
Toronto, ON, Canada,  M4Y 1S2           Mobile: 416.605.8316
E-mail:   michael at wellesleyinstitute.com<http://aerin@wellesleyinstitute.com>



www.wellesleyinstitute.com

rigorous research. pragmatic policy solutions. social innovation. community
action.




-- 
Terrie ( mocharebyl at gmail.com )
“If you see an injustice being committed, you aren't an observer, you are a
participant.” June Callwood
Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and
renders the present inaccessible.  Maya Angelou
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