Finding affordable housing is now daunting for many of us, whether you are a family looking for a first home, an elderly couple wanting a smaller home, or anyone in need of rental accommodation at the reach of its means.
Are we really surprised? The cost of housing has reached unprecedented heights across the country, to the point that some who were already struggling are now being forced out of their homes and, often, their communities.
It goes without saying that we have to look at the role of municipalities in terms of housing because, whether it’s zoning, permits, development or preservation of green spaces, these are all fields of responsibility of municipalities. They also keep our neighborhoods safe and pleasant to live in by providing infrastructure such as libraries and recreation centres, as well as essential services such as street and sidewalk snow removal and material collection.
I see that elected municipal officials all know that we have to do even more, faster. Most place housing at the top of their list of priorities and talk about the solutions they have been promoting for years.
But they know they can’t do it alone.
The truth is that the housing crisis is not new. In all the years that I have been an activist for communities, I have seen this crisis worsen. I have no doubt that one of the main reasons is that governments at some point abdicated their responsibility for housing.
At the point where we are, the only way to properly improve the situation for citizens is to apply systems thinking and result-oriented measures. We must therefore work much more effectively between governments. To meet the many challenges of the 21stand century, we must collaborate quickly, at all times.
It will therefore be essential not to circumvent the municipalities, but to work together with them.
Our three levels of government — provincial and territorial, federal, and municipal — each have a role to play in meeting this enormous challenge, as do the not-for-profit and private sectors.
Moreover, we must not make the mistake of focusing only on middle-class buyers looking for a home in the suburbs.
The solutions we must put forward must benefit all populations, including those in rural and remote communities and those struggling with chronic homelessness. One of those essential solutions is to co-develop an aboriginal housing strategy. Let’s not forget that if everyone has their own place, pressures on health care and social supports will be alleviated. Hence the importance of adopting a more holistic and equitable planning approach using a comprehensive package of supports for those in need.
Certainly, the challenges are many, but they should not serve as a pretext for inaction.
Here is a very real solution to act quickly: in just 18 months during the pandemic, the Rapid Housing Initiative has resulted in unprecedented collaboration and has provided thousands of homes for vulnerable people, and prepares thousands more.
In its 2022 budget, Ottawa earmarked $4 billion for the new fund to accelerate housing construction. If designed directly with municipalities, it could bring transformational progress and provide housing solutions for more people.
But this measure will not solve everything: we must work together to improve current housing programs and expand what works. Collectively, these actions would allow us to cohesively achieve our housing, affordability and climate change goals.
The solution to the housing crisis requires action — coordinated, ambitious and immediate action.
For this action to materialize, all partners must be at the table, put the population at the heart of their efforts and aim for the same fundamental goal: to provide safe and affordable housing for all.