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TDRC Media Releases |
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Media advisory September 21, 2005
National, Halifax housing advocates call for less spin, more homes as housing ministers start summit As federal, provincial and territorial housing ministers meet at a luxury resort outside of Halifax, national and local housing advocates will hold a press conference to call on elected officials to drop the political spin and start building desperately-needed new social housing.
Thursday,
September 22, 1 p.m.
Laurel Taylor, Halifax Coalition Against Poverty “Exactly four years ago, federal, provincial and territorial housing ministers met in Fredericton and they agreed on the urgent need for a new national housing strategy,” says Michael Shapcott of the National Housing and Homelessness Network. “Two months after that, the federal government promised to fund up to 120,000 new affordable rental units over four years. Four years later, we don’t have a comprehensive national housing strategy and we have only about 10% of the homes promised. We have a loose patchwork of funding and programs and, for most parts of the country, the affordable housing crisis and homelessness disaster is getting worse.” “Quebec has funded more social housing units than any other province in recent years, but it’s still short of the need,” says François Saillant of FRAPRU. “Housing advocates agree that the federal government should be spending at least $2 billion annually in new social housing. That would make a real difference in the lives of low-income tenants and the homeless.” At the press conference, the NHHN will release its latest national housing report card and advocates will identify national and local issues and solutions. For more information, contact TDRC at tdrc@tdrc.net -30- |