Affordable housing activists in Centretown have reason to be optimistic about potential government funding this budget season.
In their pre-budget submission to the province, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is calling on the province to create an Infrastructure Investment Fund which, if created, would provide much needed funding for city projects like affordable housing.
“We’re saying just because you’re having some financial difficulties don’t turn off the tap,” says Pat Vanini, executive director of AMO.
This, in addition to federal housing programs and Mayor Jim Watson’s budget proposal to dedicate $14 million to social (or affordable) housing and homelessness initiatives in the city, has given people such as Catherine Boucher – an affordable housing activist and vocal member of the Dalhousie Community Association – reason to hope.
Boucher, who retired as executive director of the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corp. just over a year ago, has worked in the housing sector for the past 30 years and says the issue of funding for affordable housing is one facing all communities.
“(In Centretown) you can see that what’s happening is there’s a huge push from the development community in the private sector to build a lot of housing condos, most of them not affordable to people below the 40th income percentile,” says Boucher.
In addition to two projects on Booth Street and Primrose Avenue that will yield around 30 to 40 affordable housing units each, the CCOC has funded the construction of the Beaver Barracks.
Once completed, the Beaver Barracks will provide 250 affordable housing units.
Boucher, however, points out that these developments are miniscule compared to the number of condos popping up, which she says are pushing lower-income residents out of the area.
“People need to work at the local grocery store, they can’t all take the bus from wherever they can afford to live to come and do their shift at Hartman’s, they need to live there,” says Boucher.
The creation and maintenance of affordable housing was passed onto municipalities under Mike Harris’s government.
As a result, affordable housing has since often fallen to the wayside in the face of tight municipal purse strings and other financial demands, says Coun. Peter Hume, president of AMO.
“The lack of affordable housing, the lack of investment, is directly related to the municipality’s ability to pay,” says Hume.
“What we’re saying is the province needs to come to the table with capital dollars to make those strategic investments. We can’t do it all on our own from the property tax base, nor should we have to.”
Boucher has concerns about potential provincial funding. While the current provincial government has been “at the table” in terms of infrastructure funding, she says she’s worried politics and the upcoming election might get in the way of continued support.