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OTTAWA — The organization representing the country’s cities says housing is increasingly unaffordable for Canadians at every income level, and the federal government’s plans for a national housing strategy need to include billions more for social housing.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities says wait lists for social housing are growing; and one out of five renters spends more than half their pre-tax salary on shelter.
Especially vulnerable are newcomers to Canada, indigenous peoples, single moms and seniors living alone.
The FCM says Ottawa has opened the door to more federal involvement in fixing the housing crisis by putting forward some funding in the last budget.
But now, the FCM says the housing strategy needs to carve out $12.7 billion over eight years to protect existing social housing, prevent homelessness, build new units and provide a portable housing allowance to needy renters who can’t find affordable housing.
The Liberal government opened a national consultation on a housing strategy in June. The deadline for submissions is today and the results are to be released Nov. 22, which is national housing day.
