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CHF Canada media release
 Previous release Media release index Next release November 19, 2008 – Today’s Speech from the Throne gives some hope for the four million Canadians who lack decent affordable housing, the Co‑operative Housing Federation of Canada said today. The government committed to extending the Homelessness Partnering Strategy and helping more Canadians find affordable housing. “This is welcome news,” said Nicholas Gazzard, CHF Canada’s Executive Director. “Canada’s housing co‑ops have proposed that more of their existing homes be used for low-income housing. They will welcome this commitment, and will look forward to working with the Harper government to quickly get this housing to people who need it.” Canada’s 2,200 housing co‑ops are willing to house about 10,000 more low-income families, and need only a modest program of rent supplements to begin doing so. Co ops are also committed to environmental sustainability and welcome the commitment to “policies that can help consumers and improve our environmental well-being, such as increasing incentives for energy-saving home retrofits.” Co‑ops have asked for an environmental loan fund so that they can save energy costs and reduce emissions. Affordable housing is not just about low-income families, it is also vital to healthy economic growth. An expansion of the affordable rental sector in partnership with community stakeholder groups will both diversify the range of housing solutions for Canadians, and introduce much-needed stimulus to a faltering Canadian economy. CHF Canada is the national voice of the Canadian co‑operative housing movement. Its members include nearly 900 non-profit housing co‑operatives. Across Canada, a quarter of a million people live in 2,200 housing co‑operatives. For more information, contact: Nicholas Gazzard, Executive Director, 1-800-465-2752, ext. 230, (613) 293-8913 (cell) Merrilee Robson, Program Manager, Communications, 1-877-533-2667, ext. 122, (778) 227-3864 (cell) |
