Events and Activities

MFATEH General Members Meeting - 27 April 2011

When: Next meeting is Wednesday, 27 April at 7 pm. Light suppper is available at 6:30 pm.

Where: The meeting is in the Community Room, in the basement, or lower level of 10 Trinity Square. Please press buzzer to be let in.

RSVP: Contact Coordinator if attending or for regrets.

More on the New Housing Services Act

The government is changing the social housing system in Ontario:
Let's make sure it changes for the better!

On November 29, 2010, the Ontario government introduced its long awaited Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy. The government failed to make any new investments in affordable housing, but did agree to replace the troublesome Social Housing Reform Act, which sets out the rules for social housing tenants and housing providers. The Government promised that the new Housing Services Act would make sure the affordable housing system 'put people first'. The new law does not do nearly enough.

If the government is serious about a housing program that focuses on positive results for low-income Ontarians, the new Housing Services Act must be changed to:

1. Prevent the privatization and sell-off of social housing:
Affordable housing strengthens the foundation of communities and is an important public asset. The Housing Services Act should make it illegal for municipalities to reduce the number of units of social housing.

2. Restrict punitive rent-geared-to-income rules:
Tenants on social assistance who live in social housing should not be worse off if they find a job. The Housing Services Act should protect tenants from rapid, unfair rent hikes if their income rises.

3. Improve fairness for tenants:
Tenants need an independent review process when disputing decisions made by housing providers, such as cancelling a rental subsidy. The people reviewing the decisions should not be the co-workers of the people who made them in the first place. The Housing Services Act should mandate the creation of an independent panel to consider these disputes.

4. Introduce Inclusionary housing:

One of the fastest and fairest ways to create stable, equitably accessible, affordable housing is to ensure that it is built into any new development. The government needs to amend the Planning Act to allow municipalities to introduce inclusionary housing policies.


5. Social Housing providers need a fair appeals process:
Under existing legislation, co-ops and non-profits have not had the ability to seek an independent review of Municipal Service Manager actions or decisions that did not involve costly court proceedings. The Housing Services Act must introduce an independent, fair and transparent appeals process for housing providers.

Tell the government that this opportunity to improve Ontario's affordable housing system cannot be wasted.

Take Action NOW:

1. Copy this email and add your own reasons for the government to make these changes, then send it to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy , BEFORE MARCH 31, by emailing the clerk at: trevor_day@ontla.ola.org

2. Call/email your MPP and tell them that the new Housing Services Act, must be changed to better protect tenants and promote affordable housing.

Even with these changes, the Housing Network of Ontario knows that the Ontario government needs to meaningfully address the housing crisis by improving the long-term affordable housing strategy by introducing bold targets and timelines and funding for:
New affordable housing units and repairs to rundown housing.
A housing benefit and rent regulation to close the gap between low incomes and rising rents.
Supports and services to help people access and maintain housing they can afford, and to ensure equitable, inclusive communities.

You can view the proposed legislation at:
http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2440&detailPage=bills_detail_the_bill&Intranet=

For more information on the Housing Network of Ontario visit:
www.stableandaffordable.com

or email: dirksy@lao.on.ca 
 

Green Choices for Faith Communities

Annual Green Awakening Network & Greening Sacred Spaces Forum
- March 26 & 27 at Eglinton St George's United Church, 35 Lytton Rd , Toronto
“Come and join faith communities from across Toronto and region for a day of inspiration and practical help on March 26. The event is for faith communities wishing to seriously take their commitment to 'live with integrity' in creation. There will be 15 workshops on the themes of building and operations, community involvement, advocacy, and creation & spirituality. Saturday will also feature a vegetarian luncheon and presentation of the Greening Sacred Space Awards. On Sunday, March 27, Greening Sacred Spaces and the congregation of Eglinton St George's United invites you to a complimentary interfaith breakfast and jazz worship service with Reverend Christopher Levan of Eglinton St. Georges United, Rabbi Miriam Margles of Beth Tzedec Synagogue and Imam Yusuf Badat of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto officiating. For more information or to register, please go to: www.greenchoices.eventbrite.com” 

Red Tent Canada Day of Action for a Federal Housing Strategy

Canada is currently the only G8 country without a housing strategy.  The result has been a housing and homelessness crisis that the United Nations described in a 2009 report as a national emergency.

 
A solution is within our reach.  But it is going to take all levels of government, Aboriginal communities, and civil society coming together to develop a comprehensive housing strategy to address homelessness and ensure decent housing for all.  With Bill C-304, an Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians,  we have an opportunity for a federal housing strategy that could meet the diverse needs of communities across Canada.  The NDP and the Liberals are supporting this Private Member’s Bill, but they don’t have enough votes to pass it alone.  Without Conservative and Bloc Quebecois support this historic opportunity will pass us by.  

To find out more about Bill C-304 and the Red Tent Campaign, or to help pitch in by sponsoring a tent, visit the campaign site at www.redtents.org
 
The Toronto Solidarity event for a Federal Housing Strategy is a joint effort of ACORN Toronto, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, The Dream Team, FORWARD, Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, and Voices from the Street.  For more information please contact:

Click to download the information sheet.