2015 Spring Factivist: Affordable Housing

Edition: Spring 2015 In search of ... Affordable Housing In This Edition: ForewThe Michael Shapcott p. 3 Jay Freeman’s Top Ten List p . 11 News Shorts p. 4 Edmontonians’ housing stories p. 12 Expiring Fed housing agreements p. 8 David Trautman joins board p. 14 City housing initiatives p .10 In search of affordable housing By Susan Morrissey, Executive Director In the area of homelessness, a report by the City of Edmonton has recently come out with Additional Resource Welcome to the latest edition of the fACTivist, the year six update on ending homelessness in Kolkman, J. and Kilgannon - our quarterly newsletter that addresses timely Edmonton. At the time of printing, a total of 3,525 previously homeless Moore,The fACTivist B. (2013)is published From four words times issues in our community. This to aaction year by the: AlbertaEdmonton can Social afford issue’s topic came together Edmontonians have now been a Planningreal Council.poverty The ESPCreduction is an fairly easily because of all that is housed, including 843 people in strategy.independent, nonRetrieved-profit, charitable from going on right now pertaining to 2014 and almost all (93%) of organization focused on social Housing First clients have http://research. Articles, quotes and housing and homelessness. www.campaign2000.ca/commentaries reflect the views of retained their housing. So you reportCards/the authors and do not necessarily When considering what a home can see we are making steady national/2013C2000NATIONArepresent the official position or is, I decided to consult an on- progress towards providing policy of the Edmonton Social housing for folks who would LREPORTCARDNOV26.pdfPlanning Council. line dictionary. Finding a number of variations, I chose otherwise be “on the streets”. the following: “the place where Publisher Taking it further, the Calgary From Words to Actions : one lives permanently, Susan Morrissey Homeless Foundation along Alberta Can Afford a Real especially as a member of a family or household.” with the Client Action Poverty ReductionEditor Strategy Terry Jorden Regardless of whether you live Committee and Alberta Human contains updated information Rights Commission recently alone or with others, the key Susan Morrissey on the extentContributors of child and released a Homeless Charter of Isabelle Dena, word here is permanent. family poverty in Alberta. Rights which clearly outlines Ryan Dexter, Manuel Escoto, Also highlighted are the many Jay Freeman, Stephanie Haar, Currently, much of the work going on around basic rights that apply to everyone. (See p. 6) worthwhileTerry Jorden, Ben Lemphers,programs, housing has to do with helping people find These include the right to be treated fairly in servicesSusan Morrissey,and Vincentinitiatives appropriate housing as well as planning for the legal system and having the ability to apply alreadyPuhakka, Jessieunderway Singer andthat future housing to meet continuing demand. for any housing advertised for lease. contributeCody Spencerto reducing poverty. This report makes Did you know that federal funding for social For many folks, the whole area of housing just Contact seems like a given. However, for others both theEditor, case #37, that Commonwealth Alberta can housing has been on the decline since the early working in the area of housing or those who readilyBuilding, afford 9912 106 aStreet, poverty 1990s and is set to phase out completely by Edmonton, AB, Canada, T5K 1C5 may be struggling to find a permanent home, reduction strategy. 2040? This may seem like a long time from 780-423-2031 ext. 354 (tel) the issue is front and center. There continues 780-425-6244 (fax) now, but the implications of the expiry of [email protected] operating agreements will effect approximately to be a growing body of research showing that 11,000 social housing units throughout having an adequate supply of safe, affordable Edmonton. This could impact the many living and appropriate housing is a prerequisite for Subscription ending homelessness. To be added to our distribution list on a low income, seniors and Aboriginals. contact: Fortunately, the Mayor’s Social Housing Stephanie Haar Regeneration Advisory Group has been I think you will see as you make your way 780-423-2031 ext. 349 studying the issue and has come up with a set through the newsletter that housing in Stephanieh Edmonton continues to be an important topic @edmontonsocialplanning.ca of recommendations to address social housing in the future. of discussion. Article Submissions We are always interested in receiving photos, articles or story ideas. Contact the editor. In this issue ... Spring/2015 Google the phrase “what is a home?”and you affordable housing, what get 4.6 billion hits. Yes, that’s billion, not is happening, how did we million. It seems that keeping a roof over our get here and what we can heads these days is a growing concern almost do about it? everywhere. This issue of the fACTivist focusses on affordable P2age 22 housing, or more accurately, the lack of 2 A Manufactured Problem Unaffordable Housing by Manuel Escoto framework, Shapcott assured the audience that “homelessness is NOT an abstract issue.” Whether directly Approaching affordable housing strategies through a multi- or indirectly, homelessness is a communal issue and disciplinary lens, Right to Housing Conference keynote Canadians must be committed to finding solutions. speaker Michael Shapcott said the current affordable housing crisis is a man-made problem Providing a brief history of homeless with its roots in changes to federal strategies in Canada, Shapcott noted the housing policy more than 20 years ago. positive changes we have made. Back in the 1850s, Shapcott said that homelessness Shapcott wears many hats including was seen as the result of individual sin and director of Affordable Housing and pathology. Today governments recognize Social Innovations at the Wellesley that homelessness is the result of Institute, founding member of the deprivation and barriers. Lack of income, Housing Network of Ontario, the Multi- inability to pursue education, food Faith Alliance to End Homelessness insecurity, health issues, low vacancy rates, and the Canadian Homelessness high rents and violence are a few examples Research Network. He is also a policy of the root causes of homelessness. Since analyst, researcher and author. homelessness must be approached with a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach, Shapcott began his June 5 address by Shapcott said it’s “time to start thinking in acknowledging Treaty 6 territory and systems” and offered three themes to Canada’s historical Aboriginal struggle frame the issue. and his expectations for a reconciliatory future. 1. Familiar: we know what the issues are (i.e. high rent/low income). These are As the City of Edmonton enters the nationwide issues that require nationwide seventh year of its 10-year plan to end Michael Shapcott:, keynote speaker at solutions and leadership; homelessness, Shapcott delivered a the June 5-6 Right to Housing confer- 2. Complex: the range of issues and powerful message: the lack of affordable ence, hosted by the Edmonton Coalition barriers require a range of solutions. housing in Canada is a man-made issue. on Housing and Homelessness. Simply providing homes is not sufficient. Whereas governments provide The mandate for governments and emergency assistance in times of natural disasters, the policymakers should be housing first, not housing only; appetite for emergency assistance for vulnerable 3. Dynamic: problems facing low-income Canadians are not populations is lacking. static and so, policy should be open to changes without bureaucratic delays. In Edmonton, for example, almost 450 homeless people have died in the last decade. In Toronto, Shapcott said, more As an infographic provided by Shapcott illustrates, the than 1,000 homeless people have died in the same period. increase in homelessness since 1990s is the result of deliberate government policy. Specifically, Shapcott noted Referencing the Homeless Memorial that took place earlier that the federal government’s withdrawal of investment in in the day, Shapcott expressed his sorrow when he said that affordable housing and overall cuts to social assistance at all too many people who die on the streets are remembered as levels of government during the 1980s & the 1990s created “John Doe” or “Jane Doe”. our present day crisis. The high number of unidentified homeless deaths, according Specific cuts included: Page 3 to Shapcott, makes the issue speculative – the issue is talked a $1.8 billion cut to federal housing programs 1984-1993 about among academics, policymakers and community decline of federal funding for new social housing in 1993 members but is rarely properly mourned. Within this Continued on p. 14 3 encounters with police. The study found some teens ended News Shorts up with criminal records because they skipped paying the Swann to co-chair mental health review $3.20 transit fare and found themselves in court. The study, Premier Rachel Notley and Liberal Leader Dr. David Swann led by Miriam Stewart in the U of A nursing faculty, involved announced in mid-June that Dr Swann will co-chair a review 40 homeless youth who were given monthly bus passes or of Alberta’s mental health policy, books of tickets for three months. The impact of the free working with Government MLA transit passes was then recorded in interviews. Youth were Danielle Larivee, a registered nurse. able to get out of high crime areas, attended school more This working group will aim to regularly and more youth took on job searches, says the provide recommendations by the report. end of 2015. Homeless advocate honoured with YWCA award Anglican Bishop Jane Alexander was among the winners of Dr. David Swann the 2015 YWCA Woman of Distinction Award handed out in NDP government restores education funding early June. Bishop In one of its first decisions, the newly-elected NDP Alexander won the government restored education funding for the 2015-16 Advocate category for school year to support enrolment growth and support her work with services.

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