TheBulletin.ca Journal of Downtown Toronto
“The federal government included $30 million over the next two years to ensure that federal co-ops can continue to provide housing for low income members”.
CHFT applauds this move by the federal government. “It was part of their election platform” said CHFT President Kathy Bontje.
Providing Rent Subsidies for Federally Administered Social Housing Providers
“The Government provides support for social housing through long-term operating agreements with social housing providers. As these agreements expire soon federally administered social housing providers may struggle to continue serving low-income households without increasing rental rates. Budget 2016 proposes to reallocate $30 million over two years, starting in 2016-2017 to help these providers maintain rent-geared to income for households living in social housing. This additional support would be provided on a time-limited basis until long-term approaches to help the social housing sector achieve self-reliance can be developed through consultations with provinces, territories and stakeholders.”
Over the last few years, CHFT has worked with CHF Canada to run a vigorous campaign. Standing room only member meetings were organized in every part of our membership. There were individual meetings with Members of Parliament (MPs). We met with representatives from all levels of government. Our members attended meetings on the coldest winter nights in 2014 and 2015.
CHFT staff and board members took three separate trips to lobby MPs on Parliament Hill.
Our members stood behind CHFT and CHF Canada. They were active during the election. Members across Canada campaigned hard and effectively for co-op housing. By the election call, two of the three major political parties supported helping low income members at the end of the operating agreement.
We look forward to working with the federal government.
For more information please contact,
Tom Clement, Executive Director, tom@coophousing.com
Source: CHFT Special Posting
