Winnipeg advocates call on feds for more social housing funding
Crowd gathered outside office of MP Dan Vandal to deliver letters to decision-makers
A stack of signed letters calling for more social housing in Winnipeg was delivered to the federal government Thursday.
They were signed by a crowd of advocates who gathered outside the Winnipeg offices of Dan Vandal — the member of Parliament for Saint Boniface-Saint Vital, and the federal minister responsible for economic development in the Prairies.
The gathering, organized by Winnipeg's Right to Housing coalition, coincided with similar protests in other provinces.
"I can't [stress] how much more social housing we need to be able to make steps in fixing this crisis … how much easier it would be for people if it was attainable, if it was low-barrier and there was more of it available for people," said Meghan Fifi, a youth-care worker who tries to secure housing for people.
"How does anybody get better … if the immediate survival needs aren't being met? If you're worried about where you're going to lay your head tomorrow, you're not worried about mental health or addictions, you're just in survival mode."
Fifi spoke in front of dozens of people outside Vandal's office, holding signs with slogans demanding more affordable housing.
Social housing refers to housing that is not part of the retail market, isn't privately owned, and has a controlled rent set at a percentage of a household income.
Right to Housing and its partner organizations want to see 30,000 social housing units built across the country every year until 2034. Those roughly 300,000 units would have a rent set in perpetuity at no more than 30 per cent of the occupant's household income.
The units should be publicly owned, or run by non-profits or co-operative housing providers, the coalition said. That model requires agreements between government and housing owners so subsidies are provided and rents remain geared to income.
The coalition estimates Manitoba alone needs 1,000 units annually over 10 years to meet demand.
"The crisis has worsened since the federal government devolved responsibility and cut funding for social housing in the early 1990s," said coalition co-ordinator Lindsey McBain.
"It's time it got back in the game."
Affordable housing disappearing
The group says Canada is losing social housing units, in part because existing properties are not being maintained or because operating agreements for funding are expiring. In addition, the costs of maintaining buildings have increased, along with property taxes and insurance.
The group is asking for measures to protect the existing stock, in addition to the new units.
The supply of social housing is also threatened by soon-to-expire operating agreements between the provincial government and non-profit organizations that provide housing.
In Manitoba, there are 200 non-profit housing organizations, providing about half of the province's social housing. Funding agreements signed in the 1980s and 1990s between the provincial government and those organizations are now beginning to expire
Once a funding agreement expires, providers can either sell the building, or increase rent to keep up with the cost of maintaining the building.
Earlier this year, Lions Place — a 284-unit non-profit Winnipeg housing complex — was sold to a private Alberta firm after its operating agreement expired.
"It's almost impossible in Winnipeg right now to find affordable, adequate and safe housing for individuals who are chronically homeless," said Kat Roberts, a Housing First case worker.
Roberts, who uses they/them pronouns, says they've been homeless themselves in the past and have spent most of their life in precarious housing situations.
"At least for the individuals I support, they're all on social assistance, which provides about $616 for rent," they said.
"Right now, the average cost of a one-bedroom in Winnipeg is about $1,300 before utilities."
While the Right to Housing event on Thursday focused on securing funding from the federal government, the group says all levels of government have a role to play. However, the amount of funding needed is so large a commitment is needed on the national level, the coalition says.
The City of Winnipeg has applied to the federal government's Housing Accelerator Fund for money to put toward more housing stock.
McBain says it's not clear if that would be for privately owned units, but hopes at least part would go to social housing.
Vandal's office said the letters from advocates will be passed along to decision-makers in Ottawa.
