FROM THE DESK OF KAREN O'SHANNACERY

We all know there is a serious lack of affordable housing throughout Canada and especially in the lower mainland. This lack doesn't just affect the homeless men and women Lookout is always challenged to find decent housing for. It also effects families, youth, seniors, aboriginals, the ethnic community, the working poor, or simply young couples starting their career paths. But the people who are most vulnerable are the ones who feel the impact the most, and usually have the least voice. How did a rich country like Canada get to the point that people don't have the right to housing, nor have access to affordable housing? And what can we do about it?

Affordable housing is usually provided by the private sector, but that has not been the case since the 80's when federal tax changes deterred rental housing development. There has been nominal numbers of rental housing built by the private sector since then. Why? Tax treatments that discourage investment in rental properties is a big reason. Another is zoning policies of many municipalities. And locally, it's also because of the cost of land that developers find it very difficult to build affordable housing. With a vacancy rate continuously fluctuating around zero, landlords can charge high rents and have a waitlist trying to get into their housing. Likewise, much of the existing affordable rental housing is deteriorating because the owners cannot afford to maintain them. They can make more money with less risk tearing down the housing and redeveloping as condos. In fact, the number of affordable housing units available is decreasing. Across Greater Vancouver there are 10,000 fewer rental-units in the 2006 census compared to the 2001 census, a decline of 4 percent. Based on the CMHC data for 2008, apartment condominium starts accounted for approximately two-thirds of all housing starts region-wide. CMHC also reported that just four percent—or approximately 750 dwellings—were built specifically for the purpose of renting. It's much less risky to develop a condominium, which offers a higher yield, according to the report.

Nowhere do we see it as dramatically as in the Downtown Eastside. This area contains the majority of affordable housing stock in the province, although most is in small single-room occupancy (SRO) hotels with toilets and bathing facilities down the hall. According to a report by the City of Vancouver, the overall stock decreased by 363 units (3.5%) from 10,253 in 2005 to 9,890 units as of January 2009. That the loss was not significantly higher was due only to the Provincial Government intervention, purchasing 23 SRO hotels in this area, saving them from the wrecking ball. While this move to save the housing is the single most powerful positive action that has been taken for many years, the purchase of these housing units did not add new housing, rather it saved the housing for repairs, and converted them all into supported housing for the absolute homeless. This occurred at the same time as homelessness was peaking again – The metro Vancouver homeless count of 2008 counted 2,660 people 59% who were found on the street or reported couch surfing. That is up a whopping 22% from the 2005 count, and up xx% from the 2002 count. Even more compelling is the that the number of street homeless increased 238% In Burnaby, there was a 110% increase of homeless people, and that community still has no shelter other than our Extreme Cold Weather Shelter. The problem however, is that it sliced and diced the existing housing in a different way, and has not addressed the needs of the diverse population that are the hidden homeless like the working poor. At lookout, we see a significant increase in people coming into our shelters who are simply trying to cope with poverty and a tight rental market. This is totally preventable.

Homelessness is costly to the individual whose health, self respect and abilities are undermined. How do you escape homelessness if you cannot get a job because you don't have access to a phone, a shower or food? Employers tend not to want to hire people staying at shelters as "there must be something wrong". I recall a chat with a young man seeking work staying at our Yukon Shelter. He found a job approximately 15 kilometres from the shelter. On his first day of work, he walked the 15 kilometres on shoes that were falling apart and arrived 15 minutes late. His employer was incensed and refused him because he felt that if he couldn't make it to work on time for his first day of work, he didn't want the person working there. This young man, in tears as he told me his story, said he was too ashamed to speak up or let us appeal. He simply turned away and walked back. I looked at his shoes, his soles were falling off. And this young man had no major health issues: no addictions, no mental illness – simply poverty.

Homelessness is also very costly: studies indicate that Canadians are spending roughly $4.5– $6 billion a year to deal with homelessness through a variety of necessary services: temporary shelters, hospital wards, welfare offices, social services, the criminal justice system and mental health institutions. A report from Simon Fraser University found that the cost of serving a homeless person is $55,000 per year. Alternatively, the cost of providing supported housing to that same homeless person, preventing future homelessness, is $37,000. Does it make sense to create affordable housing? Economically and ethically, it does.

The province of BC has done some significant work in creating housing for the homeless, and for the last four years has been struggling to get 12 projects under construction within the City of Vancouver, specifically dedicated to the homeless. They are slowly progressing. But the province cannot do it alone. Neither can the municipality. In Canada, the majority of our money goes to the Federal Government. The federal government ended their housing supply program in 1993 – coinciding with the increase of homelessness.

What we need across Canada is a comprehensive housing strategy to end homelessness, including a housing supply program. MP Libby Davies, the MP for the Downtown Eastside, Canada's poorest neighbourhood, has put forward a private members Bill C-304 to do just that. If passed, the Secure, Adequate, Accessible and Affordable Housing Act could make a significant difference in our community and across Canada. Why? Because, for the first time, Canada will have legislation requiring all levels of government to work together in designing a national housing strategy to end homelessness and to ensure the accessibility of adequate housing for those most in need.

However, the Bill C-304 is in trouble: it needs a majority vote. The various federal parties have taken stands. We need homelessness to be a non-partisan issue! We need the conservatives, the liberals and the Parti Quebecois to join the federal New Democrats to vote in support of this Bill so it becomes law. I urge you to read and support this bill. A website by Canada Without Poverty has the up to date information, the bill and a list of MPs. http://supportivehousingofwaterloo.org/Blog/?p=166

Everyone of us has a responsibility to call our MP and as many MP's as possible to urge their support. I ask that anyone reading this, to be active in pursuing this Bill. It is particularly important to call MP's who ideology would be to support, but who for political reason's have difficulty – the Parti Quebecois as an example. By working together, we can solve homelessness!