|
Co-ops are facing problems under both the Federal
and Provincial (now Municipal Programs)
CHFT is working with CHF Canada and other groups
to try and solve these problems and get more affordable housing.
Act
Now is CHF Canada's campaign to get more affordable housing
and to fix the subsidy problem with the 56.1 program
Fix
the SHRA is a campaigh of CHF Canada (Ontario Region) to get
changes to the Social Housing Reform Act
Fix
the Glitch Fast is a group of Toronto co-ops who have banded
together and are working with CHFT to solve the 56.1 subsidy problem
CHFT represents co-op interests to federal, provincial,
and municipal politicians. We also assist Federation members in
dealing with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and
the municipalities of Toronto and York Region
CHFT is currently involved in two important lobby
efforts to help co-ops. They are
- Section 95 subsidy issue
- Fixing the Social Housing Reform Act
The Section 95 subsidy issue involves work with
the federal government. In the Members Network of the
Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada it is described this
way:
Housing co-operatives operating under the largest
federal co-operative housing program are experiencing a critical
shortage of the funds that allow them to accommodate low-income
residents on a rent-geared-to-income basis.
As a result, many co-ops are charging rents
to low-income residents above the current federal standard of
30% of income and are turning away outside applicants who would
need a subsidy to afford the rent. The number of low-income households
served by this program is steadily declining across the country.
CMHC policy interpretations have exacerbated the decline in subsidies.
Municipally administered programs are struggling
under the provincial legislation known as the Social Housing
Reform Act. Co-op are struggling with financial uncertainty
and there are a lot of unnecessary new rules that are swamping co-op
boards and staff with new work.
The new program sets many harsh new rules that
are unfair to members who receive rent-geared-to-income assistance
(RGI). The legislation also severely limits co-op discretion and
decision-making when dealing with RGI issues.
For more information CHF Ontario Region about
this campaign click here
If you want to contact politicians about these
issues, here is list of some of the people responsible.
Federal
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca
The Honourable Diane Finley
Minister Of Human Resources and Social Development (Responsible
for CMHC)
Place du Portage, Phase IV, 14th Floor
Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, QC, K1A 0J9
Telephone: 1-800-366-3005
Fax: 819-994-0448
E-Mail: Finley.D@parl.gc.ca
To find out the name and address of your federal
Member of Parliament (MP), call 1-800-463-6868 or by visiting the
government of Canada web
site.
Provincial
The Honourable Dalton McGuinty
Premier of Ontario
Rm 281, Main Legislative Building
Toronto ON M7A 1A4
Fax: 416-325-7578
Tel: 416-325-1941
E-mail: webprem@gov.on.ca
The Honourable John Gerretson
Minister of Municipal Affairs (Responsible for Housing)
777 Bay Street, 17th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5
Phone: 416-585-7000
Fax: 416-585-6470
E-mail: jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org
You can find out the name and address of your
member of the provincial legislature (MPP) by calling the Government
of Ontario Information Services at 416-326-1234 or visiting their
web site.
Municipal
Mayor David Miller
Toronto City Hall
2nd Floor, 100 Queen St. West,
Toronto ON M5H 2N2
Phone: 416-397-CITY (2489)
Fax: 416-696-3687
E-mail: mayor_miller@toronto.ca
You can find out the name and address of your
local councillor by calling 416-338-0338 or by visiting the City
of Toronto web
site
|
