[homeles_ot-l] WI media advisory: Ontario's gets welcome boost from new investments

[Lynne Browne]

FYI . . . Lynne Browne
Coordinator, Alliance to End Homelessness (ATEH) 
Office 613-241-7913, ext 205, Cell 613-513-6647
147 Besserer St., Ottawa ON  K1N 6A7 
www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca <http://www.endhomelessnessottawa.ca/>  

________________________________

From: hhno-on-owner at povnet.org on behalf of Michael Shapcott
Sent: Fri 20/03/2009 2:48 PM
To: Michael Shapcott
Subject: [hhno-on] WI media advisory: Ontario's gets welcome boost from new investments


TORONTO: Provincial plans to speed up the Ontario Child Benefit and increase affordable housing investments mean that low-income Ontarians will have more money in their pockets and better homes. The announcement by the Ontario government earlier today - in advance of next week's provincial budget - means that eligible low-income families will get an additional $500 annually through the Ontario Child Benefit, and almost 55,000 households will get new or renovated homes from a combined federal-provincial investment of $1.2 billion over the next two years. Not only will 55,000 households get new or renovated homes, but there will be a multi-billion-dollar boost to the provincial economy, including thousands of good quality jobs in the construction and related sectors, at a time when stimulus is urgently needed.

 

"Recent research funded by the Wellesley Institute, including our ground-breaking work on income and health, shows that even a modest increase in income leads to fewer illnesses and significant health benefits," says Michael Shapcott, senior policy fellow at the Wellesley Institute. "The new housing investment is a substantial down payment to meet the needs of about one-in-four Ontario households who are precariously housed or homeless. The new investments will also breathe life into the consultations for a new provincial housing plan, expected to start in the next two or three months. The OCB and housing dollars are a good start, but the province must keep ramping up its investments to ease the devastating burden of housing insecurity and poverty."

 

In its pre-budget recommendations, the Wellesley Institute, along with many other organizations, called on the province to match federal affordable housing dollars - and Ontario has made that commitment. Today's announcement addresses two critical Wellesley Institute pillars of accountability: Help people who are suffering the most in the current recession, and build a stronger and healthier economy.

 

"Ontario's critical social infrastructure - the vital web of community-based agencies that deliver health, social and other services - is facing a double-bind," says Shapcott. "These services were already suffering even before the recession hit, and now they are facing ballooning needs and a fraying patchwork of funding and support. The Ontario government needs to restore its plans for a $30 million social innovation fund, which was put on hold as a cost-saving measure last fall. Thousands of community-based groups will be looking for solid support for the province's social infrastructure in next week's provincial budget."

 

-          Michael

 

 

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Michael Shapcott | Director of Community Engagement | 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

 

www.wellesleyinstitute.com

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