Des communautés plus fortes au Canada

Strengthening Canada’s Communities

March 2, 2012

The Honourable Kerri Irvin-Ross, M.L.A Minister of Housing and Community Development Legislative Building, 450 Broadway Winnipeg, MB R3C 0V8

Dear Minister Irvin-Ross:

On behalf of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, I am writing to add our voice to the call for addressing housing supply and affordability issues in . Access to affordable housing is a necessary foundation for neighbourhood and family stabilization, and stable families create contributing citizens. Meanwhile, Manitoba’s vacancy rate is around 1%, the lowest of all provinces, and one third of those who rent, live in core housing need.

Specifically, we support Right to Housing’s policy recommendations to Manitoba Housing and Community Development. These are:

1. Commit to making 33.3 % of the promised 2,500 new affordable rental units, RGI, in addition to the existing commitment of 300 new units per year and ensure that all new RGI units target those with the lowest income within the highest need populations, e.g. Aboriginal, homeless, disabled, newcomers, and seniors.

2. Raise EIA Housing Allowances and Manitoba Shelter Benefits to allow recipients to afford 75% of median market rental levels1, and index the benefits annually to these levels.

3. In collaboration with the Department of Finance rebate PST on selected building costs for eligible affordable and social housing construction and extend the areas of TIF financing to incent these constructions.

By implementing these recommendations, the Province of Manitoba will demonstrate concrete steps to increase the supply of social and affordable rental housing province-wide and ensure Manitobans can access those units. This will result in improved emotional and

1In 1992 when EIA rates were frozen, the housing allowance was about 75% of median market rents. We are asking for this relationship to be restored as the minimum acceptable improvement towards housing affordability.

Manitoba Office: 202-765 Main Street Winnipeg, MB R2W 2N5 Tel: (204) 943-0547 [email protected] www.ccednet-rcdec.ca/manitoba

1 physical health, better educational and employment outcomes, a reduction in poverty and greater social inclusion.

Additional employment outcomes will be realized if local individuals are trained and hired to build new housing. These opportunities should be linked to low-income Manitobans with barriers to employment, including social housing tenants. In this way, the creation of social housing will help provide a pathway out of poverty.

Furthermore, it is cost effective to provide housing when compared to the cost of addressing issues created by a housing shortage, such as homelessness. On average, it costs $48,000 a year to leave someone on the street versus $28,000 a year to house them. Long- term social housing is one of the most cost-efficient ways to house someone.

We encourage you to meet with Right to Housing to discuss how you can work together to implement these policy recommendations. For more information, please contact Clark Brownlee, coordinator of the Right to Housing Coalition at (204) 488-1786 or Brendan Reimer, Regional Coordinator of the Canadian CED Network at (204) 943-0547 or [email protected].

Yours sincerely,

Brendan Reimer, Regional Coordinator Canadian Community Economic Development Network

CC: The Honourable , M.L.A. The Honourable Peter Bjornson, M.L.A. Minister of Entrepreneurship, Training, and Trade The Honourable , M.L.A. Minister of Finance

The Canadian CED Network - MB promotes Community Economic Development as a comprehensive and integrated approach to improving economic, social, and environmental conditions in communities. This approach understands that solutions to complex community challenges will be most successful and sustainable when they are community-led. Our focus, as directed by our members, revolves around communications and information brokering, research on innovative and effective practice, promoting CED policy, leadership and skill development opportunities, and building the capacity of non-profit organizations.

More than one hundred members are represented by the Canadian CED Network - MB including the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg, Community Futures of Manitoba, Food Matters Manitoba, Manitoba Cooperative Association, Health in Common, Neighbourhood Renewal CorporationsManitoba Office throughout the: 202 province,-765 Main Street CCPA-Winnipeg, MB Manitoba, AssiniboineR2W 2N5 Credit Union, SEED Winnipeg, and other social enterprise Teland: (204) CED943 organizations.-0547 breimer Our@ccednet members-rcdec.ca representwww.ccednet hundreds of-rcdec.ca/manitoba community organizations that are working with thousands of community members across the Province. The Canadian CED Network – MB is also an active participant in many coalitions and working groups including Make2 Poverty History Manitoba, Right to Housing, Rural Team Manitoba, the Manitoba Co-op Vision Strategy, and the Social Enterprise Council of Canada.