Mayor's Report
Provincial downloading a hurdle for social housing
By Marolyn Morrison

Social housing in the Town of Caledon falls under the umbrella of services provided by the Region of Peel. However, these services often must follow guidelines set out by the Province of Ontario. I felt that it is important to share with you what has been happening with Peel's social housing over the past year.

The Province of Ontario enacted the Social Housing Reform Act, which requires that top priority overall applicants for social housing be given to victims of abuse. This has become known as the Special Priority Policy (SPP). The SPP was put in place at the same time as the previous provincial government terminated funding for social housing and downloaded the responsibility to upper tier municipalities, like the Region of Peel.

There is no doubt that there is a need for policy to protect and assist our residents who need it the most, but there are some issues with the current policy. The SPP provides priority to victims of abuse that cannot be removed, even when the risk has disappeared (often through death, out-of-country move, or reconciliation prior to being housed). This has an impact on the waiting list.

Victims of abuse apply for housing through two methods, either independently or through the shelter system. Victims who go through the shelter system (transitional housing) are much better supported and equipped for stable residency. However, there is no new funding to provide support for transitional housing.

It is important to note that social housing subsidies are not adequate and are not intended to provide support for tenants. Unfortunately, it has been determined that victims of abuse have lower incomes than people who might otherwise be housed from waiting lists. This increases the subsidy requirement.

The province must step forward to compensate for increased subsidiaries imposed by this provincial policy. Increased support for victims of abuse will go a long way in solving this problem, and helping the people who need our help the most.

Above all, the major concern is that the province continues to dictate policy that we must enforce without providing us with the necessary tools and in the end; it is our residents and communities who suffer.