Goals of social housing in the province

1. “Having no place to live means being excluded from all that is associated with a home, a neighbourhood and a set of established community networks...It means being exiled from the mainstream patterns of day-to-day life. Without a physical place to call ‘home’ in the social, psychological and emotional sense, the hour-to-hour struggle of physical survival replaces all other possible activities” (Hulchanski, 2003).

2. Goals of social housing in the province • To improve access to adequate, suitable, and affordable housing and provide a solid foundation on which to secure employment raise families and build strong communities. • Primary focus on helping people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to quickly access safe, affordable and stable housing.

3. History of social housing • 1950’s/60’s era of social housing • Revamped in 1970’s • Two new streams • Co-op Housing which is owned and operated by residents, and  • Non-Profit Housing which provides housing owned by not-for-profit groups in the local community. • Between 1985-1989 the Ontario government was directly involved in social housing and funded the building of non-profits and co-ops through the then-Ministry of Housing.

4. History continued • In 1993, Canada cancelled its social housing program. • In 1995, the Province of Ontario followed suit.

5. Social housing reform act • Social Housing Reform Act at the end of 2000 – municipal funding of social housing. • By 2002, Canada was the only G-7 nation without a national, affordable housing strategy.

6. TRUE OR FALSE? • There are 3 main types of social housing in Ontario.

7. Types of social housing • Types of Social Housing in Ontario presently: • Non-profit housing • Co-operative housing

8. Non-profit housing • Non-Profit Housing • overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors, and managed by professional staff. • provide affordable rental housing • pay rents geared to their incomes (known as RGI housing). • Tenants pay 30% of their monthly household income on rent • All non-profit providers receive subsidy.

9. Private rent supplement programs (RGI) • Arent geared to income assistance to households in privately owned or non- profit buildings. • The city pays the landlord the difference between RGI rent and the market rent for the unit. • Rents are subsidized about 30 % of the entire household’s gross income.

10. TRUE OR FALSE? • Only the individual applying for housing must have Canadian citizenship, be a permanent Canadian resident or a refugee claimant.

11. Subsidy guidelines • You are eligible for subsidy if: • Each member of your household is either a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or a refugee claimant. • At least one household member is 16 years or older. • If you are a former social housing tenant, you must have paid any arrears in full, and have no convictions for misrepresenting your income or fraud for at least 2 years (or longer in some areas). • If you own a permanent residence, you must sell the property within 6 months (or longer in some areas) of moving in. • If you are disabled, you must be able to live independently or arrange for your own support, unless the supports are part of the services provided by the non-profit.

12. How to apply for non-profit housing • How to apply for Non-Profit Housing • To join the waiting list in your area, you need to contact a co-ordinated access centre • You can also apply directly to a local non-profit

13. Types of non-profit housing • Three types of non-profit housing in Ontario: • Private non-profits • Municipal non-profits • Local Housing Corporations

14. Example of non-profit housing • Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) • A non-profit corporation owned by the City of Toronto. • TCHC is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by City Council. • Advantages: • Everyone can apply • Disvantages: • It takes time to make the appointment, and do the application

15. Co-operative housing • Co-operative Housing • Different form of social housing. • It is not rental housing. • Bottom-up approach

16. Advantages/Disadvantages of non-profit • Advantages: • The process is faster than other housing programs. • Disadvantages: • You need to be part of the specific group of these organizations.

17. Advantages/Disadvantages of co-op housing • Advantages: • It is run by the same residents and they take care of the details and maintenance of the building • Disadvantage: • Residents have to participate in every activity. • Women may find it time consuming, more work.

18. Tips on applying • You will be asked to fill out an application form. • Everyone in your household 16 and over must sign the form. • Most units are offered on a first come, first served basis. • If you are a victim of any kind of family abuse (wife abuse, elder abuse, child abuse) you will be given priority. • In some areas, other groups are given priority. Ask your co-ordinated access system for details. • You can choose to apply for one building or many. • The more buildings you apply for, the faster you will move up the list. • If the information you put in your application form changes, you must tell the co-ordinated access center within 10 business days*, or you could be cut off the list.

19. TRUE OR FALSE? • There are over 150,000 people on waiting lists for social housing in Toronto.

20. Waiting lists • As of January 2011, 152,077 households on municipal waiting lists for social housing up 7.4% from last year • Increase in number of households on active waiting lists a result of recession which has led to loss in job hours, jobs and new jobs at lower wages. • The provincial vacancy rate for housing has dropped from 3.5% to 2.9% and rents for a 2 bedroom apartment have risen by 1.9% pushing more and more low income renters onto waiting lists • Yet long waiting lists often act as a deterrent as many renters need for affordable housing is immediate

21. Ontario human rights code • The HRC aims to ensure that everyone has the equal opportunity to access housing and its attendants benefits without discrimination on any of the grounds identified by the Code. • Subsection 2(1) of the Code States: • Every person has a right to equal treatment without respect to the occupancy of accommodation, without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or the receipt of public assistance.

22. HRC Continued • Subsection 4(1) provides protection to 16 or 17 year-olds in specific circumstances: • Every 16 or 17 year old person who has withdrawn from parental control has a right to equal treatment with respect to occupancy or and contracting for accommodation without discrimination because the person is less than 18 years old. • Subsection 4(2) states that such contracts are enforceable as if the person were 18 years old.

23. HRC Continued • Subsection 7(1) specifically addresses the sexual harassment by a landlord, agent of the landlord or a co-tenant: • Every person who occupies accommodation has a right to freedom from harassment by the landlord or agent of the landlord or by an occupant of the same building.

24. TRUE OR FALSE? • Women who have been victim’s of abuse by their partner are given priority for social housing.

25. Special priority access for victims of abuse • The Special Priority Policy under the Social Housing Reform Act, 2000 (SHRA) provides priority access to social housing for victims of abuse. • Under the policy, households that have one or more members who are abused and apply for RGI assistance or special needs housing, have a mandatory priority on the waiting lists. • Municipal service managers who administer the policy have flexibility to waive certain criteria in order to reduce barriers for victims of domestic violence.

26. Key Objectives of the policy • To protect the safety of the applicant and other household members, by enabling them to leave an unsafe and abusive situation. • To protect individuals’ privacy and confidentiality. • To ensure timely processing of special priority applications given risk to safety. • Special provisions concerning RGI eligibility recognizing the nature of abusive relationships.

27. Potential problems women can face • Harassment in accommodation by the landlord or agent of the landlord or by an occupant of the same building. • Sexual harassment by a landlord, agent of the landlord or co-tenant. • Threat of reprisal for the rejection of a sexual solicitation or advance. • Rejection of housing due to low social and economic status, age, disability, race, ethnicity, etc.

28. TRUE OR FALSE? • It is often found that men are more susceptible to poverty and homelessness than women.

29. Why these problems arise • Women are faced with lack of safe, stable and affordable housing because: • Women are more likely than men to live in poverty. • Low income, immigrant women are more vulnerable to homelessness . • Long waiting list for affordable housing.

30. Statistics • One in five Canadian women live poverty. • Women who are Aboriginal, visible minorities, immigrants or refugees, disabled, senior or youth have moredifficulties finding and affording suitablehousing. • Women are more likely to stay in unsafe situations because of their inability to find other housing. • To be eligible for social housing, you must be a Canadian citizen or have a refugee claimant status.

31. Effect on women’s lives • Women and children who live in social housing and frequently change their address can experience a negative effect on children’s education and social support. • Women are often forced to stay in abusive relationships because of a lack of housing options. • Women report that the two biggest systematic barriers to escaping violence are inadequate income assistance and a lack of affordable housing.

32. Consequences • Downtown social housing vs. suburban • What are the implications for women? • Difficulty getting jobs, access to transportation

33. As an advocate for women seeking social housing assistance, what steps would you take to assist your client?