Posted by Pat S. on 7/21/2009, 12:08 am, in reply to "An Idea to Help make Housing more affordable"
The principle is the same used for pulling families with children out of poverty - and hasn't helped those on social assistance - either Ontario Works (OW) or those on Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Rates for "basic needs" have been restructured - in the current year, a one-parent household with one dependent 13+ years will benefit by $1 per month.
So, I doubt whether this housing benefit program will really help tenants who are paying more than 50% of their gross income very much - and I don't trust the government to leave already dismal shelter rates for those on social assistance as they are.
As for the working poor, this is nickel and diming them, too.
Having lived in a city where for several years the average 2 bedroom apt. was over $1050 per month, and having with 2 kids, I am totally underwhelmed by this "housing benefit".
Pat S.
--Previous Message--
: Needed: A Housing Benefit for Ontario
: Fact Sheet
:
: As part of its Poverty Reduction Strategy,
: the Ontario Government has committed to
: developing a Long-term Affordable Housing
: Strategy. Public consultation is underway in
: 2009. Part of the solution is to build more
: affordable housing. Another part of the
: solution is to make existing rental housing
: more affordable for tenants. This is why
: many groups are calling for the Ontario
: government to develop a “Housing Benefit”.
:
: Why a Housing Benefit?
: “Poverty means deciding whether to pay rent
: or buy food for your kids.”
: -Client with 3 children
:
: “I have never lived like this before. Worked
: all my life. Lost job one year ago. Living
: on $40 a week – welfare cut me off.”
: -Client who has been visiting a food
: bank for 6 months
:
: What is a Housing Benefit?
: • The Housing Benefit is a proposed new
: monthly housing allowance paid to all
: low-income Ontarians based on their rent and
: income
: • It would pay an average of $119 per month
: for families with children, $96 per month
: for singles and childless couples
: • Would include all low-income people, both
: those on social assistance and those who are
: working but low income.
: • Paid out as a monthly cheque and applied
: for through the income tax form (like child
: benefits or GST credit)
:
: Housing Benefit design
: • Would be available to all low income
: Ontarians who spend more than 30% of their
: income on rent. Would vary to reflect rent
: differences in communities across Ontario.
: • Monthly benefit would pay 75% of the
: difference between actual rent paid, and 30%
: of your income.
: • NO clawbacks for social assistance
: recipients
: • Will not lead to inflation of rents as
: benefit is paid directly to the tenant.
: Landlords will not know what the tenant is
: receiving
:
: What Issues Will a Housing Benefit Address?
: Housing Affordability:
: • Growing gap between incomes and rents,
: especially in high cost communities.1 in 5
: Ontario tenant households spend more than
: 50% of their income on housing
: • Currently 129,000 households on social
: housing waiting lists in Ontario.
: • We need a variety of solutions to housing
: challenges: fixing up & building new
: social housing; a housing benefit; and
: improving supports and tenant protection.
:
:
: Social Assistance:
: • Welfare is divided into a basic needs
: allowance and shelter allowance
: • Current shelter allowance is low and not
: well-targeted. The “one size fits all” does
: not account for housing cost variations in
: communities
: • Increases in the shelter allowance
: component have been low.
: • Only those receiving social assistance
: receive shelter allowance. Working poor and
: homeless often can’t access benefits
:
:
: A Housing Benefit would be an important tool
: during the recession
: • Improves housing affordability for many
: households at a time when people are losing
: jobs, being moved to part time, or are
: retraining
: • May prevent some people from having to
: spend assets to qualify for welfare
: • Extends assistance to the working poor
: • Puts money in the pockets of people on
: social assistance, which is spent in the
: local economy
:
: Two examples:
: Steve is single and receiving Ontario Works.
: He has no current earnings. His total income
: (including GST credit) is $575 per month
: including a shelter allowance of $349. All
: he can afford to rent on that amount is a
: room in a rooming house with 20 other
: people. He has no privacy, and only gets to
: use the kitchen stove at random hours. Steve
: would receive an additional $113 per month
: for his housing benefit, on top of his
: social assistance income.
:
: Monica is working full time at the local
: grocery store and is earning minimum wage.
: With a total monthly income of $2,062, she
: is finding it difficult to pay her
: $800/month rent and afford food for her two
: children on a regular basis. With the new
: housing benefit, she would see an increase
: in income of $136 per month.
:
: What Can YOU do to support the call for a
: Housing Benefit?
: Talk about it at housing
: consultation meetings now underway.
:
: See www.stableandaffordable.com for
: meeting dates & locations across
: Ontario.
:
: Answer the Ontario government’s
: questionnaire on housing at
: www.mah.gov.on.ca and call for a new Ontario
: Housing Benefit.
:
: Email your MPP expressing support
: for a Housing Benefit.
:
:
: For more information:
: Daily Bread Food Bank, www.dailybread.ca
: Metcalf Foundation,
: www.metcalffoundation.com
:
:
:
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