The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL) is pushing the city to develop more family-oriented housing options within the city core to quell the exodus of families to the suburbs. At present, many buildings in Edmonton's city core have adult-only restrictions; as a result families are forced to move to the suburbs. The EFCL wants to make sure the city keeps inner city schools open and starts developing a plan of action to keep families from moving.
A report published by the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates, titled "Canada Must Do Better," is being submitted to the United Nations. The United Nations will consider the report in evaluating Canada's compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The statistics included in the report paint a dire picture. Higher infant mortality rates, poorer nutritional status, higher rates of diabetes and chronic disease are just some of the problems the report identifies.
The Vancouver Sun is running an 8 part video series addressing key election issues leading up to the November 19th civic election vote. In today's paper the issue is affordable housing. With limited housing available, and a growing population the Lower Mainland is at a housing crisis. The problem affects individuals and families from nearly all walks of life from those with mental and physical disabilities in need of social housing, to double income wage earners who can't afford a place to buy and for some a decent place to rent.
A new Tyee series, "No Room to Rent in the Livable City" looks at the multitude of challenges facing Vancouver renters, from low vacancy rates, to unaffordable rents, to renovictions, finding long term affordable housing has become the impossible dream. Read series at the Tyee.
Every three years Metro Vancouver conducts a street homelessness survey, with volunteers combing the streets, alleys, and parks looking for individuals sleeping outside. This year's count showed Vancouver's street homeless population fell by 82% compared with the survey conducted in 2008.
The expiry of two key federal housing programs leaves Canadian municipalities unable to access millions of dollars allocated to social housing and financial support for low-income families. Municipalities must cease social housing projects as the federal government works out new three-year funding agreements. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) says that progress on housing and homelessness issues across Canada are being squandered by a merry-go-round of short-term agreements.
The legacies of the Olympic Games have yet to make a positive impact on Vancouver. A recent study from PricewaterhouseCoopers found that the Olympics generated $2.3 billion over a 7-year period, when politicians initially claimed they would have an economic impact of $10 billion. Other negative legacies include Premier Campbell's introduction of HST to help close a budget deficit accrued in the year of the Games, and failed attempts at improving social equity in inner-city areas.
A two-part series in Megaphone Magazine explores the rise of homelessness in the suburbs and what municipalities are doing to address the issue. Read the article here.
In an effort to address the Vancouver's lack of rental housing, city staff and council have made adjustments to encourage developers to start building rental stock. Under the city's "Short Term Incentives for Rental Housing" program, the city is waiving development fees, decreasing the number of required parking stock and offering density bonusses. As a result, a new rental housing development is underway. Read Jeff Lee's article in the Vancouver Sun.
Gentrification of a neighbourhood usually results in displacement of low-income residents, but the revitalization of Portland's Pearl District avoided that outcome by building a substantial amount of affordable housing. The result is a vibrant, mixed income community. Read more here.
