Today’s federal budget confirms the housing promises made last year (about $2 billion in new spending, mostly for new homes and repairs to existing housing), but adds nothing new (see page 236 of the main budget document).
Housing
Video: A home for everyone everywhere in Toronto
Inclusionary housing / inclusionary planning is a simple and practical tool already in use in hundreds of US cities. Watch a five-minute video on health, equity and housing on Toronto’s 2010 municipal election agenda by Wellesley Institute’s Michael Shapcott.
Continue ReadingVideo: A home for everyone everywhere in Toronto
Inclusionary Housing Case Studies
American Case Studies Case Study: Chicago IL Chicago, with its population of 2.8 million, is now the largest jurisdiction with an inclusionary zoning program. Recently adopted after resistance from a powerful mayor, this program represents a political compromise that falls short of what was sought by the proponents of the program. Download a PDF Case Study: […]
Housing, homelessness, health cut in Toronto’s 2010 municipal budget
The first draft of Toronto’s 2010 operating budget sets out cuts to affordable housing, homelessness, public health and city planning funding. Spending on the affordable housing office, social development and community partnerships has been flat-lined. Meanwhile, the police budget is set to increase by almost double the rate of inflation. Budget 2010 Initial Observations
Continue ReadingHousing, homelessness, health cut in Toronto’s 2010 municipal budget
What is the difference between Inclusionary Housing and Inclusionary Zoning?
The two terms are often used interchangeably to mean the same thing. In this website, the two are used in a more particular and careful way in order to make an important distinction. ‘Inclusionary zoning’ is used only in reference to the particular set of inclusionary housing practices and policies seen in the US. Put […]
Continue ReadingWhat is the difference between Inclusionary Housing and Inclusionary Zoning?
Who is eligible to live in the affordable housing created under these programs?
Affordable housing, by its very purpose, is intended for households not able to afford market housing. So, these programs typically set maximum income limits (adjusted for the size of the household) for the occupants of the units. Also, it is fundamental that the size of the household must match the size of the unit. (Large […]
Continue ReadingWho is eligible to live in the affordable housing created under these programs?
Does Inclusionary Housing stifle market housing development?
Inclusionary zoning programs are often said to stifle development, either by driving developers to build where there are no programs, or causing them to increase their prices to cover losses associated with building the affordable housing. The 2007 Furman Report, which was sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders in the US, presents the most […]
Continue ReadingDoes Inclusionary Housing stifle market housing development?
Can Inclusionary Housing programs help people on very low income?
Inclusionary zoning programs have been used mostly to produce below-market housing affordable to households with moderate incomes. These households typically earn too much to be eligible for social housing or government assistance, but too little to afford housing being provided by private development. Nevertheless, there are a ways to use these programs so they also […]
Continue ReadingCan Inclusionary Housing programs help people on very low income?
What is meant by “affordable”?
This term refers to housing provided at a price or rent that is affordable to moderate- and low-income households that cannot find suitable market-rate housing. Put another way, it is housing that is provided at a controlled price or rent substantially below the price or rent for the equivalent units on the market. It encompasses […]
What kinds of affordable housing do these programs create?
The programs most typically are designed to take as affordable housing some portion of the units being built as market housing. As a result, the affordable units typically are the same as the market units in size (number of bedrooms and square footage) and tenure. This housing is then provided at a price or rent […]
Continue ReadingWhat kinds of affordable housing do these programs create?