From My Bottom Step

Perhaps this new plan will have some positive impact where others have failed. One thing’s for sure… the problem is not new, it’s real, and it’s growing.

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Federation of Canadian Municipalities Launches
National Action Plan for Housing

(Vancouver, BC, January 23, 2008) - With thousands of Canadian families
struggling to find an affordable place to live and federal housing funds
scheduled to end in March 2009, Canada urgently needs a renewed
funding commitment and a national housing plan led by the
Federal government.

That was the message today as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
(FCM) released its National Action Plan for Housing at a news conference
led by Mayors Sam Sullivan of Vancouver, BC and Anne Marie DeCicco-Best
of London, ON, Co-Chairs of the FCM Big City Mayors’ Caucus Working Group
on Housing.

“Too many Canadians are forced to choose between food and rent, clothes
for the kids or making the mortgage payment,” said Mayor Sullivan. “The high
cost of housing also undermines the ability of people who want to get ahead
but cannot, because they cannot afford a secure and decent place to live.”

An FCM report released last week confirmed earlier and troubling trends, most
notably that finding adequate housing was becoming an issue even for the
so-called middle class and chronic, systemic homelessness continues in
Canada’s urban areas.

“This Action Plan was developed with the participation of municipal leaders
across the country,” said Mayor DeCicco-Best. “We will share the plan with
the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Housing, who will hold their
annual meeting here in Vancouver in February. We urge all governments to take
ownership of these issues and work with municipalities to find a lasting solution.”

The Plan examines three investment scenarios, each designed to meet our goals.
FCM’s preferred option is the mid-range one of $3.35 billion annually, which
requires only marginal increase over current spending. These costs would be
shared by the Federal and Provincial or Territorial governments, with
municipalities also playing an active role through local strategies.

“We are deeply concerned about the upcoming expiry of all Federal housing
programs in March 2009,” said FCM President Gord Steeves. “There is no choice.
The Federal government must put an end to the chronic uncertainty around
affordable housing and play a strong leadership role by committing to a
long-term strategy working with provinces and municipalities, as well as the
community sector. Today we are proposing an ambitious, but realistic plan to
address these most pressing problems.”

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