Brick by brick: Building an affordable housing
plan for TorontoMichael ShapcottThe Wellesley InstituteWCOHH, June 2012
People and places to celebrate
YWCA Elm Centre
Toronto 1911:Founding of
Wellesley Hospital
Sprucecourt Apts 1914
Toronto
slum
s
tran
sform
ed into
good h
omes
Genuine Canadian hero
John Peters Humphreys
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: Article 11
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free consent.
31st October 1945. MACKAY J.:—This is an application brought by Drummond Wren... to have declared invalid a restrictive covenant... namely, ‘Land not to be sold to Jews or persons of objectionable nationality.’... First and of profound significance is the recent San Francisco Charter, to which Canada was a signatory, and which the Dominion Parliament has now ratified. Under articles 1 and 55 of this Charter, Canada is pledged to promote ‘universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.’... An order will therefore go declaring that the restrictive covenant attacked by the applicant is void and of no effect.
Toronto - 1970
Below middleMiddle incomeUpper income
The Three Cities - David Hulchanski, U of T
Toronto - 2005
Below middleMiddle incomeUpper income
The Three Cities - David Hulchanski, U of T
Inequality / precarious housing is driving poor health
Toronto Health Profiles
60000#
65000#
70000#
75000#
80000#
85000#20
04
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
63791
82138
TO affordable housing wait list
December 2011: 82,138 households on wait list; 280 housed - 24 year wait
Up 23% since 2008
Bad housing makes you sick!Homelessness:
Increased morbidityIncreased premature morality
Mental health:Alarming rates... especially
Clinical depression and anxietyControl / meaning Collective efficacy
Homelessness:Increased morbidity
Increased premature morality
Homelessness:Increased morbidity
Increased premature morality
Biological / physical:Chemicals, gases, pollutantsDesign (accidents) / crowdingSocio-economic:
Affordability / energy Transportation / income / jobs
Contextual:Individual / neighbourhood deprivation
networks / friends / crime
Good housing good for health!Physical and mental health:
Better health outcomes / decreased health care utilization
Community safety:Reduced recidivism among people leaving incarceration
Affordability interventions:Income-based housing subsidies
Environment / physical infrastructure: New housing, repairs, heating, noise,
indoor + outdoor environmental issues,allergens, water + sanitation
Agr
ee?
“Yes, there are poor people in the world, okay, but poor people will be with us forever, like it’s been from the moment of time. I think sometimes you have to have tough love, not because you hate people but because they need the support. People should get lessons in budgeting, lessons in nutrition..., lessons in parenting. Kids have children, okay, who don’t know how to parent... I didn’t tell you to wear a condom or not wear a condom or how many children, you made that decision.”
Cllr. Mike Del GrandeToronto Budget Chief
“After 20 years of continuous decline, both inequality and poverty rates have increased rapidly in the past 10 years,
now reaching levels above the OECD average.”OECD (2008), Growing Unequal? : Income Distribution and
Poverty in OECD Countries
Inequality
Selected policy recommendations for OECD countries from Divided We Stand •Reforming tax and benefit policies is
the most direct instrument for increasing redistributive effects. Large and persistent losses in low-income groups following recessions underline the importance of government transfers and well-conceived income-support policies. •The growing share of income going to
top earners means that this group now has a greater capacity to pay taxes. In this context governments may re-examine the redistributive role of taxation to ensure that wealthier individuals contribute their fair share of the tax burden.
‘Social spending in Canada relies more on public services (education, housing,
health, etc.) than on cash transfers, such as unemployment and family benefits.’
OECD, 2011
Inequality and private
housing markets
increasing out or reach95% of Canadians live in homes in private ownership / rental markets
Inequality and private
housing markets
increasing out or reach
Entry level condominium:$70,600 household income
RBC Economics, August 2011
Typical two-bedroom apt:$44,920 household income
CMHC
20% of households have annual income <$18,00050% of households have annual income <$41,000
MMAH
For renters, average market rents are outpacing renter household incomes
Four observations:
1. Housing insecurity deep / persistent2. Costly to people, communities,
economy, government3. Federal housing / homelessness
investments eroding4. No comprehensive national plan
Most housing
needs invisible
0.50%
0.60%
0.70%
0.80%
0.90%
1.00%
1.10%
1.20%
1989
19
90
1991
19
92
1993
19
94
1995
19
96
1997
19
98
1999
20
00
2001
20
02
2003
20
04
2005
20
06
2007
20
08
2009
Ongoing erosion of federal housing investments(Federal housing investments as a percentage of GDP)
Follow the money...
2011 federal spending estimates
2010 2011 Change
Assisted housing
$1.722b $1.628b 5% cut
On-reserve $215m $156m 27% cut
Repair $674m $37m 94% cut
AHI $452m $16m 97% cut
Overall $3.131b $1.907b 39% cut
‘Scheduled termination’
Looking ahead - more federal cuts
Ontario housing spending decliningMunicipal housing spending increasing
Toronto Shelter, Support, Housing - 2012 budget
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Gross $797m $834m $869m $786m $792m $799m
Net $263m $274m $291m $269m $295m $300m
Fed $192m $187m $181m $179m $179m $179m
ON $177m $372m $341m $285m $287m $288m
Supply
Affordability
Repa
ir
SupplySupply
Supports
‘Naming and shaming’ at UN HRC
Miloon Kothari, former UN Rapporteur on Right to Adequate Housing
‘Housing is a human
right’
UN Special Rapporteur, 2009 “Canada has a long and proud history of housing successes, and has been known around the world for its innovative housing solutions. The Special Rapporteur visited and received information about programmes, laws and policies that represent good practices... Canada can also rely on a tremendous range of academic and civil society resources.” !
“There has been a significant erosion of housing rights over the past two decades. Canada’s successful social housing programme, which created more than half a
million homes starting in 1973, has been discontinued.
Canada officially accepted UPR
recommendations on housing and homelessness
“Canada accepts recommendations 47 and 48. Canada is working to improve housing choice and affordability. Governments are making substantial investments in housing through programs targeting affordability, housing renovation, homelessness and support for existing social housing units. Addressing Aboriginal housing issues on reserve remains a priority. Canada provides support through programs targeting the construction of new housing units, the renovation of existing housing stock, and subsidies for existing rental housing. Since 2006, new funding for Aboriginal people has been dedicated to resolving challenges of poverty and housing.”
Toronto Shelter, Support, Housing - 2013 budget (???)
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Gross $797m $834m $869m $786m $792m $799m
Net $263m $274m $291m $269m $295m $300m
Fed $192m $187m $181m $179m $179m $179m
ON $177m $372m $341m $285m $287m $288m
Thank you!
www.wellesleyinstitute.com