The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA), which represents the full spectrum of affordable housing options across Canada, congratulates Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau and his Liberal team on their federal election victory.
Over the course of the campaign, as well as during the many months leading up to the election call, CHRA held dozens of in depth roundtable discussions with Liberal, NDP and Green candidates from coast to coast to coast, as part of its Housing for All Campaign.
Many of the candidates attending the Housing for All roundtables reported that voters in their ridings were increasingly concerned by housing unaffordability, the prevalence of homelessness, and the federal government’s diminishing role in ensuring that all people have a safe, decent and affordable place to call home.
“Whether it was in Edmonton, Gatineau, Toronto, Winnipeg, Fredericton or St. John’s, we saw a genuine eagerness on behalf of serious candidates to learn more about the challenges facing the affordable and social housing sector, and a profound willingness to find concrete solutions and act as champions for this cause,” said CHRA President Brigitte Witkowski.
Currently, federal investments in social housing through operating agreements are set to gradually decline from $1.6 billion in 2015 to $0 in 2040, putting 365,000 Canadian households at risk of economic eviction and possibly homelessness, according to a CHRA Report.
“We are encouraged to see that so many of the candidates with whom we engaged on the campaign trail were elected on Monday night. No doubt they will be strong advocates in our quest to provide adequate, affordable and accessible housing for all Canadians who need it,” said Witkowski.
CHRA is pleased to see the Liberals committing to developing a national housing strategy and incorporating the three main Housing for All asks in their housing election platform in some form. It also welcomes the Liberals’ new approach that seeks increased engagement and collaboration from stakeholders.
CHRA and its nationwide member organizations, which collectively house and shelter hundreds of thousands of Canadians, are calling for the federal government to re-invest in social housing by building much-needed new units, renewing existing infrastructure, and by supporting people with the help and rent they need to stay housed.
Social housing gives safety and stability to people with low incomes who are often lone-parent families, seniors, urban aboriginals, recent immigrants and people with disabilities.
“Re-elected Member of Parliament Adam Vaughan and his colleagues were incredibly attentive to housing and homelessness during the campaign,” said Witkowski, “and now we look forward to working closely with the Liberal government and our sector partners to assist in the development and implementation of a national housing strategy—which will make a real difference to millions of Canadians.”
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Media contact: Catherine Fortin LeFaivre, CHRA Public Affairs Director cflefaivre@chra-achru.ca 613-979-8683
The CHRA’s members and stakeholders include housing providers, municipalities, businesses, all 13 provincial and territorial housing departments, service and support agencies, individuals, students and other housing-related associations and networks.
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