It's a tough climb for those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder, according to the city’s new 10-year plan to address homelessness.
City council approved the plan Sept. 25 and agreed to include it as a priority in the city’s overall Strategic Plan for 2011-2014.
The document is a response to new provincial legislation that requires cities to institute measurable goals for reducing poverty.
The city pledged an annual $14 million towards reducing homelessness and poverty in 2011, and another $7.9 million in 2013 towards housing and social programs and services in response to provincial funding cuts.
The new plan will extend the $14 million until 2019 and sets goals for improving the city’s affordable housing situation, such as 130 new units being built over the next two years to reduce stay times at emergency shelters.
A strong housing market makes it difficult to find affordable housing and exacerbates Ottawa’s homelessness problem.
Rental costs are the fourth highest in the country, according to the plan, contributing to estimates that 15 per cent of Ottawa’s residents live on low incomes.
“If you give people decent housing and it’s affordable,” says Tim Aubrey, a professor at the University of Ottawa who specializes in homelessness and mental health.
He says the city is on the right track with a preventative strategy.
“It’s a credit to the city they’ve moved that funding. But no, $14 million a year is not sufficient to solve homelessness in Ottawa,” says Aubrey.
“It’s evolved where it’s been left up to municipalities to provide services to address homelessness.”
In 2012, the Ottawa Alliance to End Homelessness reported 9,717 households on the waitlist for social housing.
Jo-Anne Poirier, CEO of Ottawa Community Housing, notes many people on that waitlist for social housing may couch surf or be living in emergency shelters.
Even when residents can make rent, it means other essentials are cut back.
“People are at a food bank because they don’t have enough money to afford food after they pay rent,” says Poirier.
OCH has many of its 15,000 units in Centretown. The plan aims to bring organizations such as OCH closer with other services, such as the Centretown Community Health Centre and Cornerstone Housing for Women.
“I think it’s a good plan. I look forward to working with the city and other partners on more detailed plans.” says Poirier.