housing

A graphic illustrates rising housing costs with stacks of coins growing in size leading up to illustration of a house

Township asking governments to look at funding models for smaller municipalities

April 26, 2024 by Ted Evans

Loyalist Township is calling on the federal government to re-evaluate funding for municipalities with a population less than 50,000 in rural Ontario. The township is hoping the government can make funding available for infrastructure programs to help build new homes.

According to staff’s report, Loyalist is in need of $4,375,000 in funding to complete upgrades at the Amherstview water pollution control plant this year. These upgrades are critical in the ongoing development of new homes.

The township is also asking the province to prioritize funding from the $825 million Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund to municipalities that are not eligible for funding under the Building Faster Fund.

Staff noted the township cannot afford to increase water or sewer rates to fund the needed infrastructure. Debt to build the project will increase costs to these rates, or result in increased costs to developers.

Parliament hill from the view of Gatineau bridge with two cranes beside it and a forest in front of it.

Assembly of First Nation expresses disappointment towards 2024 federal budget

April 17, 2024 by Vanessa Landriault

The 2024 federal budget was announced on April 16 and the Assembly of First Nation (AFN) says its organization is not satisfied.

While this budget promises beneficial amounts to certain issues in the Indigenous communities, the AFN reported that Ottawa initially promised $349 billion dollars towards Indigenous infrastructure and housing needs.

Instead, they were met with around $5 billion dollars, $344 billion dollars away from what they say they were promised.

For more information on this story, listen to the 95.7 ELMNT FM news brief.

Eight people stand on the front porch of a greyish blue house on the top of the steps cutting a red ribbon.

First transitional housing opens in Prince Edward County

April 9, 2024 by Brenda Little

There was a happy vibe at Leeward House as County staff, partners and dignitaries met for the official ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of the first not-for-profit transitional housing facility in Prince Edward County.

Formerly Maples Retirement Residence, Leeward House is opening its doors to nine homeless, single people later this month.

Although PEC has recognized that homelessness has been an issue for some time, the funding was not there to develop a plan. When the Maples became available for sale, the municipality realized the property would be perfect for transitional housing but without financing, their hands were tied.

Then, PEC Community Partners Inc., commonly known as Base 31, agreed to partner with the County and purchase the property. With the help of Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Social Services and the Ontario Homelessness Prevention Program, this public private partnership successfully came together to create Leeward House.

A picture of a row of townhomes in an affordable housing project in Memphis Tennessee with stairs leading to the doors, some simple pleasant landscaping with small shrubs in front of the homes. Homes are red brick and siding and have solar panels on the roof. Blue sky in the background.

YWCA leader and local MPP talk about the effects of record high rents on women

March 22, 2024 by Dan Kellar

As “record high rents” has been a recurring headline across the country over the past years, demand for social services such as food banks and housing have continued to rise.

Responding to the high costs of housing, Kitchener-Centre Green Party MPP Aislinn Clancy introduced the “Keeping People Housed Act” on March 6th, which will reintroduce rent and vacancy control on all rental units, create better regulations for renovictions, implement rules for replacing any losses of affordable housing units, and establish a task force to report on Above Guideline Rent Increases.

This show features interviews with Jennifer Breaton, the CEO of the YWCA of Kitchener/Wateroo (YWKW), and MPP Clancy. They discuss the effects of high rental prices on women and gender diverse folks across the region and province, and share ideas to address structural and systemic problems related to housing. Breaton also highlights the work the YWKW does, and MPP Clancy discusses her legislation.

A black wall has "rent's too high" scrawled on it; some construction materials are below

2024 budget should include funding for social housing: FRAPRU

March 21, 2024 by Jules Bugiel

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) National Housing Conference was met with protests on Monday.

The couple hundred protestors, many of whom bussed into Ottawa from Montreal, called on Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser to reinvest in social housing.

Among the groups leading that protest was the Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU), a Quebec-based coalition for social housing. CKUT spoke with Coordinator Catherine Lussier about what the FRAPRU would like to see change in Canada’s National Housing Strategy.

Minister Fraser’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment when reached by CKUT.

A medium wide indoor shot of four women and three men, gathered behind a podium wearing business attire. the woman at the podium speaking has medium brown skin, black glasses, a flowery blouse on. the podium is brown and they appear to be in front of a window, some blue flags, and beige walls in the background.

Quebec’s domestic violence support network stretched thin, calls for action

March 15, 2024 by Kaity Brady

Opposition parties and domestic violence associations are calling out the CAQ government for unfulfilled promises made in 2021 to create more shelter space for women fleeing violence.

Maud Pontel, of the Alliance des maisons d’hébergement de deuxième étape pour femmes et enfants victimes de violence, said the lack of new spaces threatens the entire support system for victims of domestic violence. She’s frustrated at the stalled developments. “And the only thing we’re asking is … go ahead and make it concrete and real,” she told CJLO.

Politicians Brigitte Garceau of the Quebec Liberal Party, Ruba Ghazal of Québec Solidaire, and Joël Arseneau of the Parti Québécois spoke to reporters with the Alliance during a press conference Thursday morning. They strongly expressed the urgency of creating more space for women and children leaving violent homes across the province and stressed that the government can’t approach these shelters the same way it approaches social housing projects.

Locals and architects sit around a drafting table designing a housing plan.

“What We Heard” report released, detailing findings from the Cortes Housing Forum

March 8, 2024 by Louis Belcourt

Cortes residents want more housing but they want to do it in a thoughtful way, says Regional Director Mark Vonesh.

That was among the conclusions of a recent report related to housing on the island. The Cortes Housing Society has released the “What We Heard” report, created from perspectives heard at the Cortes Island Housing Forum co-hosted with Regional Director Mark Vonesch on December 2nd 2023, and notes taken from the breakout groups held locally. Its purpose was to give a comprehensive view of the wide-ranging discussions that took place at the Cortes Island Housing Forum.

The Cortes Island Housing Forum brought together over 100 Cortes islanders, both in-person and online, to address the island’s pressing housing issues. This report aims to capture the comprehensive discussions that unfolded during the forum, reflecting diverse viewpoints and proposed solutions.

An online housing survey was also conducted by the Cortes Housing Society in partnership with Vonesch. Over 265 Cortes residents responded, which represents over 20% of Cortes’ year round population.

Three letters spelling "Oki' sits on a table in a large room. "Oki" means "welcome" in Blackfoot. The sign stands as separate white letters, with the sides being the colors of a medicine wheel (red, yellow, and blue).

Ground breaks on supportive housing facility in Lethbridge

March 8, 2024 by Ryan Hunt

Ground has been broken on a new supportive housing facility in Lethbridge, it was announced yesterday.

Construction is set to begin in the spring. Once construction is completed, it will create 30 units to help vulnerable people dealing with homelessness and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Lethbridge get back on their feet and stay safe.

According to the provincial government, $10.2 million will be provided to the project, and it will be a joint initiative between the provincial government, the City of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Housing Authority.

Rendering of a four-storey apartment building with trees.

Affordable housing proposed for Parksville

February 28, 2024 by Mick Sweetman

Parksville city council voted to move ahead with an application to allow the development of a non-market rental building at 1225 Franklin Gulls Road by the Parksville Lions Housing Society on Feb. 21.

The land for the development is a city-owned lot and the plans are for a four-storey 36 unit rental apartment building with 18 one-bedroom, 15, two-bedroom and three three-bedroom apartments. The city will lease the land to the society on a long-term basis.

Tom Roy, president of the society, said that the building will be targeted at working-class tenants. The society has applied for funding from BC Housing that would help subsidize some of the units.

The next step in the process is for the society to organize a public engagement where the public can provide comments on the project. The society also has to consult with the Regional District of Nanaimo and School District 69.

The Alberta Legislature from the front, a tree sits in the photo too, as well as a big pool in front of the building. The Alberta flag waves on top of the building. Weather is partly cloudy.

Housing organizations set to improve throughout Alberta: government

February 27, 2024 by Ryan Hunt

The provincial government is providing $1.2 million to seven affordable housing organizations around Alberta.

The organizations receiving funds are GEF Seniors Housing in Edmonton; Rimoka Housing Foundation in Ponoka; Heart River Housing in High Prairie; The Evergreens Foundation in Grande Cache; Silvera for Seniors and Onward Homes Society in Calgary; and the L’Arche Association of Calgary.

Altogether, 245 rental units are set to be improved on and be more readily available to the communities they serve, according to the government.

Bishop’s University, Universities Canada react to international student cap

February 26, 2024 by Taylor McClure

Educational institutions and stakeholders are voicing their concerns following the federal government’s announcement in January to cap the number of international students that can come study in Canada at 350,000 over the next two years.

Sébastien Lebel-Grenier, vice-chancellor and principal of Bishop’s University (B.U.), called the announcement “unfortunate” because it’s going to make it challenging for candidates to make it on time to B.U. for the start of their program.

Lebel-Grenier explained that there is currently a freeze on study permits for prospective international students as the federal government discusses how individual caps with be implemented amongst the provinces and territories, which is creating uncertainty for students.

According to the announcement from the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the goal with the cap is to help address issues within the international student system and to relieve pressure on housing, healthcare, and other services.

An old two story building sits to the left on a city street.

Luma Native Housing and First United create new indigenous housing in the DTES

February 23, 2024 by Bernadine Fox

Indigenous people make up 39% of the unhoused in the DTES while only representing 2% of the general population. The need to create housing for them is dire.

CFRO catches up with Dr. David Baspaly, President of Luma Native Housing Society responsible for the construction of the Indigenous housing at 320 E. Hastings in conjunction with First United Church.

The design plans for the building are finished and the project is moving ahead in the early stages of construction. The City of Vancouver announced funding through their Community Housing Incentive Program (CHIP).

Dr. Baspaly also said they have continued fundraising to for additional value to the project. Once completed it will be a mixed-use building with 103 studio and one-bedroom suites which will be offered at shelter rates. Expected completion is Summer of 2026.