[homeles_ot-l] FW: Housing Network of Ontario update: Ottawa Tour, RNAO sends a message, Inclusionary Housing

Fri May 21 17:18:20 EDT 2010

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: Yutaka Dirks (ACTO) [mailto:dirksy at lao.on.ca]
Sent: Fri 21/05/2010 5:09 PM
To: Yutaka Dirks (ACTO)
Subject: Housing Network of Ontario update: Ottawa Tour, RNAO sends a message, Inclusionary Housing 

The Housing Network of Ontario is eagerly awaiting the launch of Ontario's long-term affordable housing strategy next month, and our allies and supporters are helping us keep up the pressure for a strategy that will work to reduce and eventually eliminate housing-related poverty:

All Ontario MPPs asked to endorse Housing Network of Ontario's 5 Tests for Success for a Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy:

Starting April 30, and continuing throughout May, members and supporters of the Housing Network of Ontario have called, emailed and visited their local MPPs to ask them to endorse a housing strategy that will work - a long-tem housing strategy that passes the HNO's 5 Tests for Success. <http://www.stableandaffordable.com/sites/default/files/HNO%205%20Tests%20for%20Success%20April%2019.pdf>  Every MPP in the province has received a copy of the '5 Tests' and has been asked to support an effective strategy that will reduce and eventually eliminate housing-related poverty in their community and in Ontario.

Premier Dalton McGuinty responded with an email stating: "Our government believes that every Ontarian has the right to live in a safe, affordable and clean environment, and we are doing everything we can to make that happen."

The Housing Network of Ontario is looking forward to the release of the housing strategy and hopes, for the sake of thousands of Ontarians facing housing-related poverty, that it will pass the test.

Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario calls on MPPs to endorse housing plan that passes HNO's 5 Tests for Success:

Ontario's registered nurses know that access to safe, affordable housing is a fundamental human rights and a key determinant of health.  As the provincial government prepares to release the Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy, the RNAO has encouraged its members to contact politicians from all parties and remind them that Ontarians are looking for bold action to address our housing crisis.  You can email a message to Premier Dalton McGuinty and other MPPs by visiting: http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=3240&SiteNodeID=403&BL_ExpandID=

Six-Stop Affordable Housing Tour for Ottawa area MPPS:

The Ottawa Branch of the Housing Network of Ontario and six local housing providers throughout the city are offering an opportunity for all Ottawa area MPPs to participate in a 6-Stop Affordable Housing Tour in May and June. The 6-Stop Affordable Housing Tour will showcase Ottawa's existing affordable housing for families, youth, and single adults in different parts of the city. The media are invited to come out to each stop on the tour to hear and see first hand what is working well in Ottawa.  "Our community needs every MPP in the Ottawa region to be active champions of affordable housing," says Eugene Williams, Co chair of the Ottawa branch of The Housing Network of Ontario. "The tour is a chance to see first hand how successes can be replicated; we plan a 'show and tell' tour to demonstrate 'here is what it takes; this is what it gets you'." Ottawa's affordable housing advocates stress that creating new affordable housing stimulates the economy and promotes economic prosperity, as does investing in social capital. Mr. Williams points out that, "Supporting the community's capacity to develop affordable housing helps drive economic growth and reforming housing legislation will build healthy and sustainable communities."

Can you hold an affordable housing tour in your community for your local politicians?  

Inclusionary Housing private members bill re-introduced:

Inclusionary Housing is an important tool to increase the supply of affordable housing by harnessing the power of private development.  The Housing Network of Ontario has called on the province to make Inclusionary Housing a part of the Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy.  Cheri DiNovo, MPP for Parkdale High Park, has re-introduced her bill on Inclusionary Housing that was not dealt with by the last session of the Ontario Legislature.  Bill 58 will go to second reading in early June.  People who support inclusionary housing should contact their MPPs and urge them to vote for this bill.  You can send an email to Minister of Housing Jim Bradley by visiting: http://www.inclusionaryhousing.ca/take-action-bradley/

For more information about the Housing Network of Ontario and the '5 Tests for Success of Ontario's Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy please visit our website:

www.stableandaffordable.com <http://www.stableandaffordable.com/> 

Yutaka Dirks

Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator

Advocacy Centre for Tenants - Ontario

425 Adelaide St. W., 5th Flr.

Toronto, ON  M5V 3C1

Tel:   416-597-5855 x. 5243

Fax:  416-597-5821

www.acto.ca <http://www.acto.ca/> 

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