The Wellesley Institute, in its formal submission to Toronto City Council’s Executive Committee on Jan 24, 2012, joins with four former Mayors of Toronto, leading urban researchers at the University of Toronto and, perhaps most importantly, a great many tenants of Toronto Community Housing in recommending that Executive Committee reject the proposal for the unprecedented […]
Housing
CBC Marketplace investigation probes many complaints against big private landlord
A good place to call home is one of the most fundamental determinants of health. Research from the Wellesley Institute and others draw strong links between poor housing and homelessness, and increased illness and early death. CBC Marketplace has investigated numerous complaints from tenants at one of Canada’s largest private landlords – and their powerful […]
Continue ReadingCBC Marketplace investigation probes many complaints against big private landlord
New plan would see most fed/ON housing dollars for Toronto invested in rent subsidies for landlords
Toronto City Council’s Executive Committee will be asked on Tuesday to approve a three-year plan that will see most of the $108 million that the city will receive from the federal and provincial governments over the next three years allocated to housing allowances to help low and moderate-income households pay the high cost of rents […]
Toronto faces human rights legal hearing on city’s restrictive zoning rules
The City of Toronto has been ordered to face a full legal hearing at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal regarding city zoning rules that restrict the location of supportive housing for people with physical or mental health needs. The Dream Team, a group of psychiatric consumer / survivors, launched legal action against Toronto, alleging that […]
Continue ReadingToronto faces human rights legal hearing on city’s restrictive zoning rules
Wait lists hit new records, Exec Committee schemes to sell-off 740 affordable TCHC homes
Toronto City Council’s Executive Committee meets on Jan. 24th to consider an unprecedented recommendation from Toronto Community Housing Company (TCHC) to sell-off 675 buildings that include 740 affordable homes. The scheme comes at a time when Toronto’s affordable housing wait list sets new records month after month, and the vacancy rate in the private rental […]
Four former mayors urge City Council, Ontario government to reject scheme to sell-off 706 affordable homes
Four former mayors urge City Council, Ontario government to reject scheme to sell-off 706 affordable homes Four former Toronto mayors are urging current Mayor Rob Ford and Ontario housing minister Kathleen Wynne to reject a proposal to sell-off 706 Toronto Community Housing Company affordable homes. Former mayor Barbara Hall, chair of the Ontario Human Rights […]
Budgets are about choices: Housing and homelessness cuts proposed for Toronto’s 2012 budget
The proposals in Toronto’s draft budget to shut down three transitional shelters for 97 elderly and health-compromised homeless women and men will “save” city taxpayers less than $2 million, but will be costly to the health and lives of individuals who will lose access to a valuable service – and will also be costly to […]
Toronto’s proposed housing and homelessness cuts threaten health, lives of many people
A transitional shelter slated for closure under current Toronto budget plans has had a positive impact on the health and lives of homeless men. “Without the Dells, I wouldn’t be where I am at today… it saved my life,” says David Oliver in a powerful story in today’s Toronto Star by reporter Brendan Kennedy. In […]
A Housing Year In Review And A Walk Through The Numbers
As 2011 draws to a close, and 2012 beckons, a healthy and affordable home remains out of reach for millions of Canadians. Housing is about people – their lives, households, communities and health – and the year-end numbers tell a compelling story about housing in Canada in 2011. Housing costs outpace household incomes While the […]
Continue ReadingA Housing Year In Review And A Walk Through The Numbers
Taking action on toxic trio of inequality, poor health and precarious housing: Presentation and resource links
The powerful links between rising inequality, poor health and precarious housing form a toxic triangle – but there are practical actions that can reduce poverty and income inequality, advance population and personal health and prevent and end homelessness and precarious housing. The Wellesley Institute’s Michael Shapcott joined the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Trish Hennessy […]