Fronted by the Wellesley Institute, CMHA Ontario assisted with seven recommendations in a submission designed to improve to the federal government’s National Housing Strategy. The submission, forwarded Oct. 26 with 12 other mental health, addictions and supportive housing service providers in support, calls on a national housing strategy to set these specific objectives:
- Reduce and eliminate chronic homelessness in the next decade.
- Maintain affordable rents and good repair in all 20th century social and supportive housing.
- Create inclusive communities by ensuring that a suitable share of housing production is social and supportive housing.
- Increase rental assistance to Canadian households to keep pace with our growing population.
- Strengthen the capacity of the non-profit, co-operative, and supportive housing sectors.
- Enhance federal capacity to work toward housing goals in partnership with provinces, territories, housing providers, and others.
- Coordinate housing priorities with health, homelessness, and other policy spheres.
The submission was in response to public consultations calling on Canadians to participate in the government’s Let’s Talk Housing initiative. The vision for the National Strategy is for all Canadians to have access to housing that meets their needs and what they can afford.