Shelter is a basic human…

Shelter is a basic human need. The right to housing should be fundamental. In Ontario it is not. The only real housing crisis is the accelerating loss of affordable housing that is forcing low income families to choose between food and rent. Hence the dramatic increased use of foodbanks and actual homelessness. All three of the proposed changes to inclusive zoning are precisely the opposite of what is needed: a 15% minimum requirement of affordable units for all new developments larger than ten units, with actual minimums up to 50%, to be set by local municipalities; the maximum rental rate for affordable units based on the average wage in the locality, rather than the average rental cost; and finally, the units should remain affordable for the life of the building, rather than for 25 years.

On their own, the three proposals will only exacerbate the affordability crisis for low income families, and lead to more food insecurity and homelessness. Regrettable that there are no proposals to preserve the existing stock of affordable housing which is disappearing at an alarming rate. For shame.