OTTAWA, November 22, 2013- On National Housing Day, the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) continues its ongoing call for the Government of Canada to consult with all levels of government as well as the private sector to develop and implement a comprehensive national long-term affordable housing plan that will reduce health and social inequities across Canada.
Budget 2013 took strong steps forward towards a national long-term affordable housing plan with a renewed commitment to a Housing First approach as well as renewed commitments to work with provinces and territories to help Canadians find and keep affordable housing.
“The commitments to the Housing First approach and renewal of affordable housing agreements are a strong starting point to launch the national dialogue required to address homelessness and affordable housing in Canada” stated CASW President, Morel Caissie. “Housing is a form of harm reduction and equitably addressing the affordable housing crisis in Canada will not only drive down overall healthcare costs but also reduce the harm incurred by our fellow citizens.”
It was the expectation of CASW that renewed commitments in Budget 2013 would be accompanied by deeper investments in the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) towards a comprehensive national long-term affordable housing strategy. Annually through CMHC, the federal government provides support to close to 594,000 individuals and families living in existing social housing. This funding is provided under long-term agreements that covered a 25 to 50 year period and are completely separate to recently announced commitments to Housing First and the renewal of affordable housing agreements with the provinces and territories.
CASW calls on the Government of Canada to clarify its commitment to a national long-term affordable housing plan as the backgrounder of a November 21, 2013 CMHC announcement states that, “At the end of these [25-50 year] agreements the government will have fulfilled its commitment and funding will end.”
“Renewed affordable housing agreements with the provinces and territories while reducing the overall national investment in CMHC will not deliver a comprehensive national long-term affordable housing plan that will equitably meet the needs of Canadians” states Caissie.
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For more information:
Fred Phelps, MSW, RSW
casw@casw-acts.ca
Tel.: 613.729.6668
