| Home Co-op Talk Login Français Contact us Site map Links Aa Aa |
|
CHF Canada media release
 Previous release Media release index Next release June 11, 2008 – At a time when 4 million Canadians are in need of housing, more than 700 housing co‑op members are gathering in Toronto to do something about it. The Co‑operative Housing Federation of Canada will be holding its annual general meeting, June 12 – 14, at the Westin Harbour Castle Convention Centre in Toronto. “It’s appalling that 4 million people in Canada are living in core housing need – paying more than they can afford or living in substandard housing,” says Nicholas Gazzard, CHF Canada’s executive director. That’s equivalent to the population of Toronto, so it’s fitting that we’re meeting there.” “I’m sure that if tomorrow the entire city was left homeless or in substandard housing, there would be cries for all levels of government and the community to help. Because the number of people in Canada in core housing need is spread across the country, the crisis is not so visible. But it’s a crisis nonetheless.” “Our members are anxious to build more housing co‑operatives to address this need. We’ll be talking about our solutions and plans at our meeting.” There are more than 93,000 co‑op homes in Canada, providing affordable housing for a quarter of a million Canadians. But the number of co‑ops cannot meet the demand for affordable housing. Most co‑ops have long waiting lists and the problem will become more acute as the government funding programs that help house low-income residents come to an end. CHF Canada members are working with other organizations and calling on all levels of government to help the 4 million Canadians in core housing need. Author Thomas Homer-Dixon is the keynote speaker, addressing participants at 9:30 am on Saturday, June 14 in the Metro Ballroom of the Westin Harbour Castle Convention Centre. CHF Canada is the national voice of the Canadian co‑operative housing movement. Its members include nearly 900 non-profit housing co‑operatives and the organizations that support them. Local hosts for the annual meeting are the Co‑operative Housing Federation of Toronto and Toronto-area housing co‑ops. For more information, contact: Nicholas Gazzard, Executive Director (613) 293-8913 (cell) or ngazzard @ chfcanada.coop Merrilee Robson, Program Manager, Communications, (778) 227-3864(cell), (416) 861-8755 (CHF Canada conference office, June 11 – 14) or mrobson @ chfcanada.coop |
