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New
link to Homeless Solutions Building the
Future CALGARY: The Canada
West Foundation today released a discussion paper
laying out 10 steps Canadian cities, large and
small, should follow to help solve growing
homelessness in Canada. The need for more
affordable housing, writes Senior Policy Karen
Wilkie, the author of Building the Future, is
becoming increasingly evident. In some cases,
affordable housing is required to house low income
wage earners, people with disabilities, or
university students. In other cases, affordable
housing is needed to house growing numbers of
homeless persons, seniors, or seasonal
workers. The affordable
housing issue is not new, Wilkie writes. However,
growing demand, a scarcity of supply and a sense of
urgency are elevating the issue on the public
agenda, and affordable housing has emerged as one
of the greatest public policy challenges facing
Canadian communities. The factors contributing to
the growing demand for affordable housing include
the rise in housing costs (both home ownership and
rental prices), the general rise in the cost of
living (e.g., utilities, food and transportation),
record low vacancy rates, and the growing gap
between high and low wage earners. The scarcity of
supply is explained by condominium conversions, a
lack of new rental units being built, funding cuts
to government programs, neighbourhood
gentrification, and urban population growth.
Cumulatively, these factors are putting a lot of
strain on Canadian housing. To address
affordable housing shortfalls and meeting the needs
of individuals Wilkie writes that identifying the
need for affordable housing is just a first step.
In order to effectively meet the affordable housing
needs in a community, a number of considerations
must be taken into account,
including:http://www.cwf.ca/V2/cnt/release_200710191508.phphttp://www.cwf.ca/V2/cnt/publication_200710181055.php National
Coalition for the Homeless The National
Coalition for the Homeless, founded in 1984, is a
national network of people who are currently
experiencing or who have experienced homelessness,
activists and advocates, community-based and
faith-based service providers, and others committed
to a single mission. That mission, our common bond,
is to end homelessness. We are committed to
creating the systemic and attitudinal changes
necessary to prevent and end homelessness. At the
same time, we work to meet the immediate needs of
people who are currently experiencing homelessness
or who are at risk of doing so. We take as our
first principle of practice that people who are
currently experiencing homelessness or have
formerly experienced homelessness must be actively
involved in all of our work. * November 21: The
Bringing America Home Act was reintroduced into
Congress by Representative Julia Carson (D-IN) on
November 16, 2005. * November 22:
Letter to Senator Reed from the Partners and
Colleagues of the National Coalition for the
Homeless and the National Alliance to End
Homelessness. CONTAct us:
National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P St NW |
Washington, DC 20037 Phone: 202.462.4822
| Fax: 202.462.4823 Email:
info@nationalhomeless.org. Congratulations
to Mighty Jambo Acrobats
Helping
Hand for Cote d'Ivoire
Villagers: \About
Cross-Cultural
Solutions Congratulations
to Mighty Jambo Acrobats
Water
Can/ Eau Vive:
Another
lady we met while in Ethiopia, who is
doing great things for villagers in
various parts of Africa, is Christina
Lubbock of Ottawa. Ms. Lubbock is part of
a Canadian Government project to provide
much needed sources of drinking water. A
full story on their efforts is underway,
but in the meantime, if you are interested
in supporting this great cause, her e-mail
is: clubbock@watercan.com \About
Cross-Cultural
Solutions |
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