housing

Senior Women Living Together matches housemates to counter rising costs of living

October 30, 2024 by Dan Kellar

As landlords continue to raise rental prices across the country, many renters are being left behind. According to rentals.ca, average rent in Canada has been increased by 25% since 2021. For some, the result is homelessness, and Waterloo Region is no exception – a recent report shows at least a 129% rise in chronic homelessness here since 2020.

“I knew I was going to be homeless at some point if I did not do something” says Pat Dunn, a widowed retiree now living in Peterborough. Dunn is the founder and the executive director of the non-profit organization Senior Women Living Together. Through subscriber generated profiles on their website, the organization finds matches for senior women, who then meet up to discuss living as housemates.

This show features an interview with Pat Dunn who discusses her own brush with homelessness and rising rent led her to helping others in the same situation. The organization is currently promoting their free service in Waterloo Region.

Three tiny black and white houses on a gravel surface in front of some trees.

Sackville resident proposes change to make small homes more practical

October 29, 2024 by Erica Butler

A Sackville resident is asking Tantramar council to change the way they regulate the size of dwellings in the former town.

Right now, Sackville dwellings must have minimum dimensions of 20 feet by 20 feet, which is too wide for buildings to be constructed offsite and transported on provincial highways to their final destination. Natalie Donaher is proposing using the equivalent in area, 400 square feet, for the minimum size requirement, thereby allowing for rectangular-shaped small homes that can be built elsewhere and transported to Sackville.

Donaher believes the type of change she’s proposing would be part of a municipal plan review when Tantramar takes one on, but the affordable housing advocate decided to apply for this change immediately, covering the $1500 application fee out of pocket. “I didn’t think we should wait that long,” says Donaher, “because it seems the housing crisis is much more urgent than that.”

Collage of press photos of rappers Aquakultre, Stephen HERO and Wolf Castle.

Atlantic Canadian rappers tour to make communities “Better Together”

October 25, 2024 by Johnny James

Nova Scotia’s Aquakultre (aka Lance Sampson) is joining forces with New Brunswick’s Stephen HERO (aka Matthew Elliott) and Wolf Castle (aka Tristan Grant) for a tour of some of the east coast’s best hip-hop, but with a much greater purpose than the music itself.

In each tour stop, including a date at Fredericton’s The CAP on October 26th, the artists will be hosting drives to both raise money for local charities supporting the homeless and to gather items for those living on the margins. All with the goal of engaging each community to be, like their tour’s namesake, “Better Together”.

CHSR sat down with Aquakultre, and Stephen HERO, to talk with them about the tours initiatives, their collaborative track “Can’t Stop (Working)” that started the conversation, and their personal motivations to tackle the issue of homelessness.

A full room of people in a classroom setting. They are sitting at tables with notebooks, waterbottles and assorted paraphenalia in front of them.

3rd Annual Housing Summit advances affordable housing in Haliburton County

October 18, 2024 by Elizabeth Oakley

The statistics are staggering. At 82 per cent, Ontario has the highest proportion of renters paying more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. In Haliburton County, affordable housing remains a crippling obstacle to residents, with no easy answers. That’s what the 3^rd Annual Places for People’s Housing Summit, taking place October 24 in Minden aims to address through collaboration and problem-solving.

The summit provides opportunities for a diverse group of people, businesses and organizations to come together to network, brainstorm and hopefully move the needle on providing more affordable housing across the county. Fay Martin, Co-Chair of Places for People, admits while there have been some successes, far more is needed to improve the inventory of affordable housing here in Haliburton County.

A man is crouched on one knee petting his dog, Dusty, in front of the old Halifax Central Library building on an overcast day. There is a purple picnic table and the Halifax Provincial Court building behind him.

Homeless in Halifax– How an unhoused mayoral candidate and advocate are pushing for progress

October 17, 2024 by Mitchell Bailey

The issue of homelessness and housing affordability is dominating debates ahead of Halifax’s upcoming municipal election on October 19.

As the city’s by-name list of those sleeping rough sits at more than 1,300 people as of June – some advocates are taking matters into their own hands. One of them is Andrew Goodsell, an unhoused resident who’s currently running for mayor.

The mayoral hopeful is one of 16 candidates running in Halifax’s election. He said he’d like to see smarter taxation and effort between all levels of government to identify more land for public housing builds in the municipality.

CKDU spoke with Goodsell and a woman who’s recently experienced homelessness to hear their suggestions on how the city can improve its response to the ongoing crisis.

The picture shows the front of the 3 story light brown brick building with windows and the words "Waterloo City Centre" on the building in a serif font. There are red flowers in a garden bed in the front of the building.

Waterloo Region has new housing proposals to assess after call for proposal deadline closes

October 9, 2024 by Dan Kellar

During Monday’s council meeting, Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe said that she is “excited to see that there were a number of applications that came in” to develop city owned land near RIM park in Waterloo. McCabe also called the project at 2025 University Ave E, “a significant opportunity for the city”.

In June, CKMS News reported that “the project aims to provide over 700 homes in a sustainable, affordable neighbourhood with commercial opportunities”.

The project is partially funded by the federal Housing Accelerator fund and is awaiting a provincial Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) which will fast track development.

This show features Ron Ormson, the Commissioner of Integrated planning and public works for the city of Waterloo speaking at the October 7th council meeting. After discussing other housing and development plans the city is working on, Ormson outlined the next steps on the 2025 University Ave project,

A 1960s style church on a parking lot against a blue sky.

Homelessness support organization forced to put Crossroads Village on hold after loss of funding

October 1, 2024 by Christena Lawrie

The future of the Crossroads Village project, previously the Sleeping Cabin Program, is uncertain after its host organization Our Livable Solutions (OLS) announced it is on hold due to a loss of operational funding.

Originally set to wind down by September 30, 2024, the project had recently regained momentum with new funding and support from Crossroads United Church, alongside a $500,000 commitment from the City of Kingston for site development.

However, a breakdown in funding agreements has stalled progress, leading to layoffs for OLS staff and raising concerns for the 11 current cabin residents amid Kingston’s housing crisis.

OLS is now working with the city to find housing solutions for its residents as they seek other sources of funding, reporting that there is hope the Crossroads Village project could still be completed before winter.

To show what a Habitat PKR multi-unit residential project looks like.

Habitat for Humanity seeking ‘community’ investments for affordable housing with new program

August 13, 2024 by Edward Sweeney

Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region (Habitat PKR) has launched an alternative method for financing their affordable housing construction projects.

The project, titled “High Impact Investment Program,” seeks investments and loans directly from community members and local businesses, instead of traditional bank loans.

In 2022, Habitat PKR completed a 41-unit affording housing project, located at 33 Leahy’s Lane in Peterborough. Habitat PKR CEO Susan Zambonin says that they would like to focus on building more “multi-unit residential properties,” but, because of greater initial costs, the organization struggles to finance projects of this scale.

The “High Impact Investment Program” will allow Habitat PKR to receive loans from community members at an interest rate lower than that of traditional financing, says Zambonin, while also making affordable housing a “community effort.”

Listen to the full CFFF story to learn more.

A group of politicians stand around a microphone and lecturn and in front of a construction site to make an announcment regarding increasing funding for more and improved affordable housing

Federal government announces $25 million for affordable housing builds, repairs in Waterloo Region

August 2, 2024 by M.P. Holmes

The federal government has announced over $96 million in contributions and loans aimed at affordable housing across South Central Ontario, including Waterloo Region.

Locally, the funding amounts to $25 million which will help create 336 new affordable homes and repair more than 7,300 homes in the region.

The announcement was made at an affordable housing construction site in Kitchener on Thursday. The event was attended by political representatives, including Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Regional Coun. Colleen James, and the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada Jenna Sudds, who made the announcement on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

Key local projects that will receive this funding, include the revitalization project at 82 Wilson Ave., St. Mark’s Place in Kitchener and the Beaver Creek Housing Cooperative in Waterloo.

The federal government has also introduced a “frequent builder” status to streamline funding applications for experienced builders.

CKMS has more on the story.

A picture of a streetscape in a mid sized Canadian city. In the foreground is the rough road and sidewalk with a construction sign. A car sits at the stoplight and construction is taking place beyond the light. There is a multistorey tall building at the end of the street and several small 2-3 story buildings lining the street.

In uncertain times, City seeks residents to help shape new city plan

July 22, 2024 by Dan Kellar

Work on Kitchener 2051, the city’s next 25 year official plan has commenced, and staff have opened applications for residents who would like to work in a community working group who will provide guidance throughout the process.

In the press release, Rosa Bustamante, Kitchener’s Director of Planning and Housing Policy said “Kitchener 2051 is an opportunity to tackle these issues head-on, ask big questions, and prepare us for an uncertain future”. With work starting in the fall, the press release says the community working group will “exert real influence through their expertise and insights”.

This show features an interview with Natalie Goss, the policy and research manager for the City of Kitchener. Goss discusses the scope of “Kitchener 2051”, how the plan will be adapted as we move through dynamic social and ecological conditions, and how folks can get involved in shaping the city’s new 25 year official plan.

Three men and a woman in a construction zone with shovels'.

Ground has been broken for new youth centre and senior housing in Terrace

July 17, 2024 by Sabrina Spencer

On July 9th, the Province, BC Housing, Terrace and District Community Services Society (TDCSS) and the Foundry held their groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new mixed-use development at 3221 Eby Street in Terrace.

The new facility is designed to address housing needs for seniors and provide integrated health and wellness services for young people aged 12 to 24. It will consolidate Foundry services for youth into a purpose-built facility. The development will also feature 43 affordable rental homes for seniors.

This initiative is part of a broader provincial strategy to enhance community infrastructure and support mental health and housing initiatives with expected completion in 2026.

The province is providing $1 million in capital funding specifically for the new Foundry center at this location. Additionally the province through BC Housing, is providing approximately $7.8 million for the construction.

There is also ongoing core funding to support the operations and services provided by the Foundry.

Seven individuals from the Abbotsford city hall protest encampment stand next to a camping trailer that has a white banner hanging from it. The banner reads, "Drug War Survivors Protest Camp 10 years of inaction! Designate safe space now!" written in red spray paint. Abbotsford city hall is visible in the background. It is a partly cloudy day, and the trees are adorned with green leaves.

Abbotsford city hall protest homeless camp wants place to go

July 4, 2024 by Mike McCulloch

A group called Abbotsford Drug War Survivors (ADWS) has established a homeless encampment at Abbotsford city hall in protest, calling on the city to identify land for individuals to camp.

“We request that the City of Abbotsford promptly identifies and designates a specific location within municipal boundaries where unhoused individuals can move to in the wake of the decampment of BC Hydro Lands bordering Gladys [Avenue],” reads the petition linked on ADWS Facebook page.

“We are advocating for the city to designate space where individuals can safely shelter in the interim between homelessness and seeking other permanent housing solutions,” said Brittany Maple, the executive director of the Matsqui-Abbotsford Impact Society and program coordinator of ADWS.

Abbotsford mayor Ross Siemens said he is, “happy,” the protest encampment moved from its original location at Babich Park and believes city hall is a more appropriate place to protest.

– With files from Aaron Levy