[homeles_ot-l] Launch of the Housing Answer! (Vote Housing!)

[Mike Bulthuis]

<http://www.housinganswer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Housing-Answer-2_log
o-200x1221.jpg> Housing Answer 2_logo 200x122

 

This morning, six local housing and homelessness networks (including the
Alliance) joined together in launching the Housing Answer
<http://www.housinganswer.ca/>  -- asking municipal election candidates to
increase funding for the city's ten-year Housing and Homelessness Plan, in
proportion to the annual provincial upload. The full news release is below. 

 

The website includes a list of candidates who have already endorsed the
Housing Answer; we'd like to see every candidate on that list! Be sure to
engage your candidates to endorse the Housing Answer. 

 

You can demonstrate your support for the Housing Answer by uploading an
image onto your Facebook page: 

 

Step 1: Log onto:
http://www.housinganswer.ca/share-your-belief-that-every-person-in-ottawa-ne
eds-a-safe-place-to-call-home/

 

Step 2: Choose one of the images

 

Step 3: Save to your computer.

 

Step 4: Post the image to Facebook (just as an image, not your profile
picture)

 

In so doing, in all of your friends' Facebook feeds, they'll see the arrows
pointing at your name, indicating your support for the Housing Answer. The
hope is that your friends will also share the picture and the word will
spread, encouraging candidates to support the Housing Answer.

 

 

 

 

News Release: Vote for Housing

 

Six local housing and homelessness networks join together in asking
municipal election candidates to increase funding in proportion to annual
provincial upload.

 

September 18, 2014 - Ottawa-The Housing Answer today launched
housinganswer.ca <http://www.housinganswer.ca/> , which provides a growing
list of election candidates (30 to-date) who support increasing funding for
the city's Ten Year Housing and Homelessness Plan. The list indicates
candidates' support for either:



a)         An increase of $2M each year, or

b)        The Housing Answer's proposed $2M increase in 2015, ramping up to
an increase of $8M per year by 2018. The allocation would grow in proportion
to the provincial upload, which increases each year by about $5M, ramping up
to an additional $20M per year by 2018.

 

"Four years ago, Ottawa City Council made a new investment of $14 million
each year to address homelessness and to fight poverty," says Ray Sullivan,
Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation Executive Director. "Together we've
seen an 18% drop in homeless families using emergency shelter, 1001 new
households benefitting from rent supplements and housing allowances, and 575
new affordable housing units built or approved."

 

"While there have been improvements, in 2013 Ottawa households faced a wait
of almost five years for affordable housing," says Mike Bulthuis, Executive
Director of the Alliance to End Homelessness. "In 2013, the average length
of stay in an Ottawa shelter was 73 days. 1,542 children and youth (under
18) stayed in a shelter. The Housing Answer believes City Council can
increase funding each year - in proportion to the annual provincial upload -
because every Ottawa resident needs an affordable place to call home."

 

Learn more at housinganswer.ca and join the conversation on Twitter
(@housinganswer <https://twitter.com/housinganswer> ) and Facebook
(facebook.com/HousingAnswer <https://www.facebook.com/HousingAnswer> ).

 

About Housing Answer
The Housing Answer is comprised of six local networks and non-profits
representing organizations working daily to end homelessness: Alliance to
End Homelessness Ottawa, Coalition of Community Health and Resource Centres
of Ottawa, Co-operative Housing Association of Eastern Ontario, Eastern
Ontario Landlord Organization, Ottawa Social Housing Network, and Ottawa
Supportive Housing Network.

 

- 30 -

 

Contact (English and French):
Heather Badenoch
heather at villagepr.ca
613-859-8232
@heatherbadenoch <https://twitter.com/HeatherBadenoch> 

 

 

 

 

Mike Bulthuis

Executive Director

 

Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa

171 George Street, Ottawa ON K1N 5W5

613-241-1573, ext. 314

 

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