$5 million earmarked for city's rent supplement program

Close to 400 low-to-moderate income households and those with special needs will benefit from a new $5 million plan unveiled on Oct. 24 at City Hall that will provide program participants with a five-year, fixed rate rent subsidy that will average $200 per month.

The three orders of government are joining forces to provide the rental assistance program as part of the city’s Cornerstones Plan. The federal government and the province contributed $1.25 million, while the city’s contribution amounts to $2.5 million. The city will manage the program and work with local housing management bodies to identify and assess the needs of applicants. 

The assessment is based on a number of factors, including annual house-hold income, current housing situation, the number of dependents, the per-centage of income currently spent on rent, emergency situations, over-crowding or if there are prevailing health issues in their current residence. It is expected that the funding will be available commencing in November.

Fee Rebate Program forms part of Cornerstones initiative

The Fee Rebate for Affordable Housing Program (FRAHP) is another prong of the Cornerstones Plan. The program will rebate municipal fees and charges for designated affordable housing units comprising all or a portion of new or existing residential development project proposals.

The purpose of the plan is to provide long-term reduced affordable rents or ownership charges to benefit the less than median income residents who will live in those units from payments that would be required if those fees and charges were not rebated.

The money available to developers under the plan is $350,000 per year and includes charges for development fees, lot grading fees, sanitary sewer trunk fees, building permit fees and water and sewer hook-up fees to name a few.

Developer inquires on FRAHP can be made at 496-3125.

Back to top

Aboriginal Committee on Housing active in community

The Edmonton Aboriginal Committee on Housing meets at the

Métis Nation of Alberta offices to plan future activities and events.

EACH's Brown Bag Lunch Series Begins

The Brown Bag Luncheon series, sponsored by Joint Planning’s Edmonton Aboriginal Committee on Housing began at Cunningham Place on Oct. 19, 2006.

Bannock and stew luncheon a highlight of Housing Month

The Edmonton Aboriginal Committee on Housing is hosting a Bannock and Stew Luncheon Nov.23, 2006 in Edmonton. The venue has not yet been determined, but details will be available shortly on the Edmonton Joint Planning Committee on Housing website.

The event is being planned to coincide with Housing Month in November.

Back to top

EJPCOH NEWS    

Taking care of business - Councillors share insight

Councillors Karen Leibovici (second from the left) and Michael Phair (fourth) attend Joint Planning board meetings on a quarterly basis.

The pair are responsible for the file on the City of Edmonton's Corn-erstones Plan and they provide the board with updates of developments on the project as they progress.

Back to top

Homeless community dinner supports the less fortunate

By Evelyn David

I had dinner with Leonard at the Knox Metropolitan United Church on Oct. 11, 2006. It was the second Annual General Meeting for the homeless who reside on the South Side. It provides an opportunity for the homeless to share their thoughts and experiences with community members working to help them.

A dinner of liver and onions, mashed potatoes and meatloaf was part of this second annual get together. Leonard is an amiable person with lots of friends. He says he wants to feed the rest of the kids (homeless) in the neighbourhood. He often goes to the Old Strathcona Park gazebo to share his plenty. That night I saw Leonard distributing powdered coffee and hot chocolate to his friends. When I asked him how he can afford to do this he said, “I panhandle to make money. That’s the way I want to make money. Then I buy cases of hot chocolate to give away,” he said. Leonard said that in the five years he has been living on the South Side, sleeping outdoors, he has never crossed the river. “It’s too dangerous,” he says.

That night I collected
a few stories from those willing to share their life experience with me. I also noticed that a Boyle McCauley health worker went to every table asking each one if they would like to have a pneumonia shot.

The meal was prepared by volunteers associated with the church or the business group in Old Strathcona.

The entire event was organized by Terry Kettleson, the Old Strathcona Adult Outreach Worker who works with Mike St. Germain. They are part of a project funded by the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund to help the homeless access community resources and provide basic care and survival needs.

Back to top

Mangano: Business case a solution to help the homeless

There is a strong business case for provid-ing housing to the homeless and the one thing that communities don’t need is another home-lessness study urged Philip Mangano, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director.

Mangano, the featured keynote speaker at a luncheon in Red Deer on Sept. 26 and noted homelessness expert, stated the cost for health care and correctional services are so exorbitant that study after study has shown that safe, affordable housing is far cheaper than those altern-atives in providing for the homeless population. Convincing elected officials that financial savings can be achieved with affordable housing will greatly increase the chances affordable housing will be built, Mangano predicted. 

Back to top

National conference

sets priorities to tackle youth homelessness

Over 250 delegates at Canada's first youth homelessness conference have unanimously agreed on six priority actions for Canadians and their governments to tackle rising youth homelessness ― dubbed the Homeless Youth Action Agenda.

Beyond the Street provided the first national platform for young people to work with community leaders, business, labour and faith organizations and governments to recommend solutions for the estimated 65,000 youth living on Canada's streets. Delegates decided major steps must be taken to build on the conference's momentum, and agreed on a Homeless Youth Action Agenda.

The Homeless Youth Action Agenda includes the following priorities:

1.  Fully Recognize Homeless Persons: Canadians and governments must fully recognize homeless persons, including homeless youth, and respect their rights as citizens;           

2.  Make action on youth homelessness a top priority: All groups and individuals, including our governments, must immediately make comprehensive and supportive action on youth homelessness a top priority in Canada;

3. Action for Governments: Governments must maintain and enhance all homelessness programs, including the National Homeless Initiative, affordable housing and youth support programs;

4. Reverse Federal cuts to youth programs: We urge the federal government to reverse the $55.4 million in cuts to youth employment and support programs;

5. Follow-up National Youth Conference and Advocacy: A National Steering Committee has been formed to plan a follow-up National Youth Conference, to organize future advocacy and information sharing and to promote access to youth resources;

6. Action for Conference Participants: Conference participants are asked to take back and share what they have learned and experienced in St. John’s with their local communities and to support the “Homeless Youth Action Agenda”

A key concern among conference delegates is the uncertainty over the future of the Government of Canada’s National Homelessness Initiative (NHI). The Initiative is slated to end in March 2007 unless action is taken immediately.

Back to top