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Boxed-In The Affordable Housing Crisis in Hastings County

Boxed-In The Affordable Housing Crisis in Hastings County. Communities Taking Action April 26, 2005. Boxed-In Report. Background of the Report Highlights of the Report Preliminary Strategies Affordable Housing Action Network Conclusion Obtaining a copy of the Boxed-In Report.

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Boxed-In The Affordable Housing Crisis in Hastings County

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  1. Boxed-InThe Affordable Housing Crisis in Hastings County Communities Taking Action April 26, 2005

  2. Boxed-In Report • Background of the Report • Highlights of the Report • Preliminary Strategies • Affordable Housing Action Network • Conclusion • Obtaining a copy of the Boxed-In Report

  3. Boxed-In: Background • Started on National Housing Day November 2002 • Housing Working Group was formed • Hastings County Affordable Housing Research Project • Participatory Action Research

  4. Boxed-In: Background • Wanted to know: • Who is at risk of being homeless? • Why are they at risk? • What are some of the challenges people face when housing is not affordable? • How can we build upon existing assets in our community to create change and improve the situation?

  5. Boxed-In: Background • Interviewed 781 households • Homeless • At risk of being homeless • Precariously housed • Low income households • Statistics Canada information • 117 service providers • Over 100 affordable housing studies

  6. Boxed-In: Highlights • Survey respondents asked to rank priorities • #1 Priority: Create more subsidized or rent geared-to-income housing • “Shelter is a basic human need. So are good nutrition and health care and education. I’m glad you are doing this survey. People need dignity before they can contribute to society. Housing is a good start.”

  7. Boxed-In: Highlights • 107 households self-identified as homeless (293 people) • Main reasons: • Affordability of housing • Loss of job or unemployment • Marital/relationship breakdown • Conflict or differences within households • “When you have a child and are working hard to make ends meet and you lose your job it’s hard.”

  8. Boxed-In: Highlights • More than one-third of respondents had been homeless within the past three years • 70% of respondents reported that their current housing had one or more disrepair issues • “Rent is too high for people to live. Pay rent and don’t eat or eat and don’t pay rent”

  9. Preliminary Strategies • 23 Preliminary Strategies • Building Community Capacity • Advocacy • Existing Housing Stock • Create New Affordable Housing • Other

  10. Building Community Capacity • Create an Affordable Housing Action Network for Hastings County • Provide information to homeless and precariously housed • Develop housing and housing related contact lists • Increase public awareness • Develop workshops

  11. Advocacy • In-depth analysis of survey results • Increase shelter allowances for social assistance recipients • Extend the Supporting Community Partners Initiative beyond March 2006 • Advocate to the provincial government to provide funding for 35,000 new affordable housing units in Ontario

  12. Existing Housing Stock & Creation of New Affordable Housing • Think “Outside the Box” • Commercial buildings no longer in use • “Brownfield” developments • Single room occupancy units • Rooming house systems • Mobile homes • Multi-use developments

  13. Existing Housing Stock & Creation of New Affordable Housing • Create an inventory of surplus government properties • Home ownership seminars • Inform landlords and developers about funding available • Develop a strategic plan to create more affordable housing • Pursue other public and private initiatives

  14. Other Strategies • Support agencies pursuing funding to provide support • Improve local transportation services

  15. Affordable Housing Action Network (AHAN) • Repeatedly heard “Somebody should do something about the affordable housing crisis” • Idea of AHAN developed • AHAN will take the lead to address the issues from the preliminary strategies • AHAN made up of people from this community

  16. Affordable Housing Action Network (AHAN) • Two Task Forces established: • Community Capacity Building, Advocacy & Awareness Task Force • Bricks and Mortar Task Force • Have already had meetings, began working and planning • Anyone interested can join • Allows full or limited participation

  17. Conclusion • There is an affordable housing crisis in Hastings County • Over 1,100 households waiting for subsidized housing • Over 100 households surveyed were homeless • No new affordable housing has been built for 10 years • Need to create the Affordable Housing Action Network

  18. Copy of the Boxed-In Report • Hard copy can be obtained from Hastings County’s Housing Programs Branch for a cost of $10 • Electronic version: • Hastings County’s web site at www.hastingscounty.com , click on “Departments” then click on “Social Housing”. • Direct web site address is: http://www.hastingscounty.com/Departments/SocialHousing/Social_Housing.htm

  19. “Without a safe nurturing environment it is impossible to be a good parent or person. From stability comes growth. We all need roots.”

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