Homestarts Incorporated

Amidst housing shortages across the country, small homes are increasingly becoming a viable solution. Builders in rural Ontario are working on affordable housing options while municipalities are looking at land and changing zoning and by-laws to allow these affordable structures to become part of the housing solution.

Airbnb stays can provide a unique travel opportunity to experience a destination like a local. However, in cities like Toronto that are in the midst of a housing crises, the impact of Airbnbs can be significant. There are an estimated 6,500 entire homes listed, the majority of which have owners that own at least one other property and seldom use one as their primary residence. Hopefully a more regulated industry will help increase the supply of viable long-term rental units in Toronto.

Over the last decade, Scarborough has seen an influx of residents, driven out of the downtown core due to housing costs. With the increase in lower income households comes an increased need for support. The Daily Bread Food Bank has opened its second location: The VP and Sheppard Food Bank is located on the first floor of a Toronto Community Housing building at 2743 Victoria Park Ave. The food bank is open every Friday between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

After the recent deaths of two Toronto women who used the shelter system and an unpredictable winter climate, advocates for Toronto's homeless population urge the city to immediately add 2,000 shelter beds in 2019, far more than the 1,000 the city promised by 2020.

How heartwarming to see such dedication to affordable housing in a small community. Ken Thomson's story emphasizes the importance of stable housing, a place to call home. Ken is an inspiration to the next generation of affordable housing crusaders to find passion in furthering the sector and helping others.

In a push to meet the goal of raising new housing units from 1,000 to 3,300 yearly, 11 city properties have been allocated for the development of affordable housing promising a "mix of unit types and sizes, homes that are affordable for a 'diverse range of incomes, including deeply affordable homes'"

As Toronto Community Housing units crumble with billions of dollars worth of needed repairs, so do units on First Nations reserves across the province and country. Sickness and resulting deaths are rising with an outcry to the government by community leaders for urgent assistance.

A strategy that prioritizes homes over shelter beds is proving effectual in Helsinki to keep people off the street when faced with hard times. In urban and suburban areas across Canada, many individuals and families are one pay check away from homelessness. It can be difficult to recover with the current supply of housing.

Five Ideas to Ease the Big City Housing Crisis. Can these ideas make 2019 the biggest year yet for affordable housing?

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a great holiday and got some rest and relaxation time. Looking to the future, we optimistically hope that 2019 brings change, new policies, more funding and most importantly homes to more people who need them more than ever. What are you looking forward to this year in the Co-op Sector?

Finland nearly eradicated homelessness in a decade, beginning in the midst of a recession and presented their strategy at the National Conference on Ending Homelessness in Hamilton. It would be great to see international sharing and strategies to remedy homelessness and housing shortages in Canada.

The newly announced federal Anti-Poverty legislation aims to precipitate a 50% decrease in poverty by 2030 via strategies including the establishment of the country's first official poverty line using the "market basket measure," which tests whether a family's income will mean they can afford a set of basic goods and services as well as a national advisory council. Hopefully this legislation, combined with the National Housing Strategy will create real change in neighbourhoods in need across Canada.

The North West Territories Housing Corporation are opening 10 social housing units on the K'atl'odeeche First Nation Reserve. Previously, people in need of affordable housing had to live in Hay River, NWT which off the reserve and away from the First Nations community. 6 more homes will be turned over to the First Nation to sell for funds to build more affordable housing.

Thank you to COCHF, the board of directors and Naomi Cho for having us at your Fall Education Conference. It was great to see your best ever turn out and all the great education you are sharing with your members. #cochf #ontariofederations #afffordablehousing #coophousing #educationconference

#FEELGOODFRIDAY In London, Ontario, a huge donation has come from the insurance giants that call it home base. 100K will help a youth support organization build affordable units for youth, young mothers and young families as well as support resources for mental health, addictions, employment and education.

Parkdale residents are joining together with community groups to take the fight for affordable housing and controlled gentrification into their own hands. Those who are affected most by developments in the area seem to be consulted the least, and residents do not want to loose the vibrancy of a diverse neighbourhood nor do they want to be priced out of existence.

The world urgently needs forms of social re-organisation that prioritise caring for the environment and putting people at the centre of the economy. We need to build a new system: one that will balance economic growth with sustainability and human flourishing. Here co-operatives can, and will, thrive even further as the member-owned business model looks set to dominate. The links between co-ops, community and sustainability are significant and need to be strengthened as the most viable remedy for the effects of urbanization and capitalism.

Toronto edges closer to following in Vancouver's footsteps. The GTA is home to the largest collection of co-op and non-profit homes, but if those who are employed to service these properties as managers, coordinators, maintenance staff and support staff such as HR and bookkeeping cannot afford to live in these same communities on a non-proft salary, what will happen to the long-term sustainability of these housing providers? Boards can only do so much and staff is essential to the day to day running of a housing property.

Homestarts Manager Dave McFarlane and Coordinator Davin Thornborrow with Peel/Halton CHF Executive Director Sophie Taylor talking affordable housing at Co-op Day.

Today's the day! Co-op Housing Day is hosted by CHF Canada at Queens Park to bring co-op housing and housing affordability related issues front and centre with MPs and MPPs. The evening reception is a great opportunity to share why co-ops are important to you and your community. Homestarts will have staff present, advocating for housing.

#FEELGOODFRIDAY A seniors housing development in eastern Ontario opened a 14 unit expansion in February of this year has celebrated the opening and end of mortgage with a ribbon cutting and ceremonial mortgage burning. The majority of the units are Rent-Geared-to-Income.

Even while working several jobs, minimum wage workers are stuck in limbo, as they can barely make ends meet but cannot afford to move. Housing is hard to come by province wide and affordability is also dwindling with the supply. The raise in minimum wage was helpful, but the prospect of a increase freeze is worrying that there is not reprieve in site to long commutes, 14 hour days and endless worry.

Gentrification has had a major impact on housing and affordability across Toronto, but most notably in the neighbourhood of Parkdale. The erasure of vulnerable people and their resources is masked by the promise of trendy goods and services. no amount of regulation is going to stop [the current development trends] until CMHC takes their foot off the gas and starts investing less in private mortgages and more in social housing.

There is no space to spare in Toronto when the housing shortage grows by the day. A vacant building and lot on Sherbourne street could become a much needed development and Toronto Anti-Poverty group is working to make it happen despite a less than co-operative city. With at least 96,000 people on the centralized subsidy waiting list, all resources should be pooled and considered to provide homes.

Municipal governments are very closely linked to the success of affordable and co-op housing. On Monday, October 22, make your vote count and select mayors, councillors and trustees that will prioritize housing and work to build units that are in dangerously short supply.

The City of Toronto has passed the "Changing Lanes" motion with the help of Toronto urban initiative "The Laneway Project" that has made changes to current regulations around laneway and laneway housing that could see the development of hundreds of small, affordable homes, managed just like a basement apartment would be. By offering homeowners income stability and increasing affordable housing supply, laneways could be a major tool for mending the current housing crises.

A family of 6 is facing homelessness as their search for a new home drags past their eviction date. With few affordable options and their applications rejected due to a single income and other applicants out bidding them past their budget, this mother and father, grandmother and three kids are waiting for the Sheriff. Despite being on their local housing waitlist, it may not be enough to keep this family out of a shelter.

Unfortunately, a plan has fallen through for Mohawk College to procure provincially owned land in Hamilton that was slated for an expansion of the campus while the sale funds would be used to fund new affordable housing development. The plan was cancelled as a result of the provincial government change.

Peel Region is slated to grow in population from 1.46 million people to 1.97 million over the next 25 years. Mississauga could add 174,000 new multi unit homes (with an average size of over 1,000 square feet) via low and medium density intensification, which could translate into housing 435,000 residents.

It's Co-op Week! Co-op week is a celebration of Canadian co-operative and credit union members. Co-op Week is always celebrated during the same week as International Credit Union Day, which is the third Thursday in October of each year. This year's theme celebrates the worker bees and the hive, which are an age-old symbol of the co-operative movement.... http://canada.coop/en/events/co-op-week

A few weeks ago we shared that the applications for affordable housing units in Toronto were open. The response was overwhelming. More than 3,000 applications were received for 75 units chosen by lottery. This underlines the dire needs for units. Applicants are only eligible for a unit if they make less than roughly $46,000 per year, meaning thousands of households are hovering around this low income threshold.

major #TBT 112 years to be exact. A non-profit housing corporation that shares the grounds of a historic YMCA building in Orillia helped in finding a sealed time capsule with relics from a century ago. The items paint a photo of turn of the century life in Orillia and will be displayed with other historical information.

The availability of rooming houses in downtown areas is dwindling as former low cost shared accommodations are transforming into luxury condos in gentrified neighbourhoods. These types of housing that benefit some of the most vulnerable populations were never legalized in outlining suburbs, but changing this will increase available legal affordable housing while offering the tenants rights that are lost to them in illegal situations.

Can diversifying housing help house more people? As Vancouver looks to incentivize townhomes and smaller multi-residential developments, should Toronto follow suit and offer an alternative to super expensive detached houses and non-family friendly high rise condos?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We hope that you are enjoying a day of giving thanks with friends and family. Please consider helping those in our communities who may be struggling at this time of year by supporting The Mississauga Food Bank Thanksgiving Campaign. They are hoping to raise $150,000 and 100,000 lbs of foods by October 12. You have until the end of the week to contribute. Enjoy!

More affordable rental housing is coming to Ottawa, great news after the Heron Gate community mass evictions. "These projects will provide affordable housing options close to public transit, schools and services for middle-income families. As a result, they can enjoy better social outcomes and contribute to vibrant and socially inclusive neighbourhoods."

Surprise! Despite crushing rent prices and desperately scarce vacancies, it has been determined that Toronto is indeed not the Least Affordable Housing Market in Ontario. Richmond Hill has taken that honour with the average household income over $47K short of what is needed to buy an average home. If you're looking for the most affordable market, grab a warm coat and head to Thunder Bay.

September 30th marked Orange Shirt Day, a initiative inspired by the experiences of one residential school survivor, like so many indigenous children in Canada, to foster reconciliation and education and honour the victims and survivors of residential schools across Canada.

A visual artist has created photographs depicting the residents of the Herongate community in Ottawa. We shared an article about the impending mass exodus from this aging but integral affordable housing community and the struggles faced by those being forced to leave the current housing market. These photos are a reminder of the human toll this redevelopment is taking.

In the small western Newfoundland town of Stephenville, a new development of tiny homes is making home ownership affordable for more people. Co-operation with local government made these small homes possible allowing affordable living with the added benefit of the smaller environmental footprint tiny living allows.

"The Innovation Fund Student Challenge has inspired students to not only think of new ways to address affordable housing, but to perhaps consider a career in housing as well. The proposals we've received are creative and offer solutions ranging from innovative building techniques to new financing models. I would like to congratulate all the winners and everyone who participated in this challenge." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Community organizations involved in the housing sector have backed the Toronto Housing Pledge, aiming to get support from municipal candidates for increased commitment to affordable housing strategies in the GTA. Their goals include: No more homeless deaths, financial stability for Toronto Community Housing, make ‘affordable housing’ truly affordable, ensure new residential development includes everyone (and) mobilize Toronto’s resources to build more affordable housing.

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) gathered at Celebration Square in Mississauga rallying for changes in the definitions of low-income households (thereby widening the scope of who can receive assistance) and providing solutions for affordable living which is proving to have consequences outside of the housing sector.

#FeelGoodFriday Habitat for Humanity's largest Canadian development is coming to Halifax comprising 78 units. The building will create a subdivision with previous Habitat builds and will take 6 years to complete and will make a dent in the 22,000 household currently in need of affordable housing the Halifax area.

Thousands were spent this summer to remove temporary shelters set up under the Gardiner in Downtown Toronto. With homeless shelters frequently at capacity, understaffed and rarely safe for clients, and respite centres dangerously underfunded, the $14,000 spent to destroy the meagre shelters and belongings of Toronto's most vulnerable could be spent elsewhere.

What a great initiative! Affordable housing tenants gaining professional skills while building affordable housing for others. This is the forward thinking that will help solve the housing crises. Trade skills means greater opportunities for employment which then raises earning potential and lessens the needs for affordable housing. How do we bring this to Ontario?

A sad reality for those who desperately need affordable housing in Toronto is that there are simply not enough units. Unless you work directly with marginalized groups of people, it is hard to put a face on the housing crises.

Calgary has announced their intention to bid on the 2026 Olympic Games. While hosting the Olympics games is never an inexpensive undertaking, could the prospect of affordable housing make it good investment? About 2800 units will be built and converted to affordable, near market and market homes.

Hamilton's 12 Food Banks saw over 8,000 households using their services. 73 per cent of households that accessed food banks this March paid market rent. Of those, 51 per cent put more than half of their income toward rent, putting them at extreme risk of homelessness.

Could Facebook actually make finding a home easier? Despite reports that Facebook usage is declining among younger people, it is still a massive social network that could maybe be used for good, or have potentially bad consequences. Time will tell. Would you use Facebook as an aid for finding an apartment?

Even outside the urban borders of Toronto, the housing crunch is affecting families. 1 in 4 households are paying 50% or more of their income on housing. And this when there is an apartment to be found.

The co-op model is getting more and more recognition nation wide as a viable business model for housing and other ventures. A Vancouver International Film Festival documentary Silent Transformation "examines the co-operative efforts of communities in Ontario and their 'radical vision of co-operation.'"

If you are looking for affordable housing in Toronto, you have until OCTOBER 3rd to apply for a unit in a new Regent Park apartment building. 110 River Street includes 1, 2 & 3 bedroom units, part of which are dedicated to seniors.

There is a growing issue of housing instability due to "renovations" - evicting tenants from privately owned rental units, under the guise of undertaking significant renovations or to allow family to move in. Landlords are required to give 120 days notice and sometimes offer some monetary compensation, however it is not always possible to find a new affordable home within that time. Often, these units are turned over with minimal work done, but with a major rent hike above the mandated increase amount (1.8% for 2018). Co-op and non-profit housing and dedicated rental apartments offer stability and prevent these kinds of evictions.

The Niagara Region shelters are bracing for the strain of an influx of clients as the summer begins to fade and cold temperatures force the homeless off the streets. While the reported numbers of those who do not seek shelter are relatively low, there could be an increase in those needing shelter beds as rents rise and vacancies decreases. The average price of a one-bedroom apartment is between $131-$191 above the monthly Ontario Works allowance for a single person. Without Rent-Geared-to-Income units, how can individuals, couples and small families pay for day to day expenses as well as housing?

A recent Angus-Reid institute report (http://angusreid.org/greater-toronto-housing-prices-policy/) has compiled statistics about housing and affordability in the GTA. These statistics support the growing trend for renters to leave the city and home buyers to look to smaller municipalities. "Pushing people out of the city [is] to the detriment of anybody invested in social cohesion, or the benefits of living in a diverse society."

New Zealand is also facing a housing crisis (their population density is nearly 5 times that of Canada) and there may be solutions in co-housing in primarily indigenous communities. The idea behind these communities is not just about lower rents, but the connection with neighbours and the shared amenities and tasks. Housing is global issue and much can be learned from other countries solutions.

August and September marks the "Back-to-school-Bounce" when it is harder than ever to find housing in urban areas. In Toronto, where it is increasingly difficult to find housing, even during the best of times, rents for 1 bedroom apartments are starting at prices $200 higher than last years cap. Hopefully, this year will follow the trend of past year's minor dips after the September rush.

Enjoy the last long weekend of the summer! Lots of fun things to do this weekend before the kids get back to school. Stay safe and have fun! Here's whats up and what's open.

#FEELGOODFRIDAY Daily Bread Food Bank has partnered with Ontario produce farmers to provide farm fresh produce to low income Scarborough residents for FREE! Access to produce at Food Banks is often limited, but is most nutritious. Farmer have excess food that goes to waste. This amazing programs solves both problems and would be amazing to see province wide.

Potentially among one of the largest displacements in Canadian history, the news of 600 people being evicted in this Ottawa housing community has reached new outlets in the Middle East. Lack of affordable housing has left at least 30% of evicted households with no solid plans of where they will live after September 30th, 2018. The new builds that saw a smaller group of residents evicted in 2015 is still in preliminary construction phase. Units are being lost faster than they are being built, and families are being dispersed across the city, a close knit community torn apart.

Kitchener-Waterloo group Spectrum is working to make seniors homes safer places for aging members of the LGBTQ community who are often reluctant to be out where they live in fear of discrimination from their neighbours. New dedicated LGBTQ seniors community housing is also part of the strategy. Homophobia, prejudice and antiquated views do not always fade with age, but it is essential that everyone feels safe and accepted and free to be who they are even in old age.

Habitat for Humanity has introduced the first of 15 families that will call their McLaughlin Road development home by the end of 2019. In partnership with BILD, habitat is creating 2 an 3 level townhouses for families in need in the community. Most significantly, this is an opportunity for home ownership, which is rarely possible for low income and marginalized families.

Waterloo is providing homeowners an incentive for creating affordable housing in their homes with legal basement apartments and in-law suites. 12 $25,000 15-years loans are available each year to create units that are desperately needed in virtually every region in Ontario. Hopefully this initiative proves viable and spreads across the province. Is this something you would consider?

Safe housing plays a large part in in combating sex trafficking which occurs at a higher rate in Peel Region than any where else in Canada. Well strategized housing supports that ensure victims safety while avoiding triggering events make the healing process more feasible.

Can the controversial move to cancel the 3 year Basic-Income pilot draw attention and long term solutions to a potentially unsustainable system? How can the system be improved while ensuring equity for all?

A prominent Ottawa family not only contributed financially to the building of Karen's Place, a housing development for people with mental illness, but shared their own personal experience, losing their own, the building's namesake, to an illness they did not always understand hoping to keep the conversation about mental illness going.

An interesting look at the rise of worker co-ops in the US. Immigrants, low income people and people of colour are finding the co-op model meets their needs where other strategies do not. Could an increase of worker co-ops in Canada also help populations in needs?

The Liberals’ 2018 budget set aside a combined $900 million over the next decade for housing in Metis and Inuit communities, and a further $600 million over three years for work in First Nations communities. The first $30 millions will be awarded through this contest. More details will be announced this fall.

A deadline is looming for asylum seekers in Toronto as the dorms they are currently housed in are needed for the incoming students this September. There are simply not enough rooms or beds for the need. Many families are being relocated to areas outside the GTA where housing and hotels are cheaper.