Who are York Region's affordable housing advocates running in the municipal election?

All levels of government share responsibility for housing, Yvonne Kelly writes

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 6, 2022
Yvonne Kelly

The Affordable Housing Coalition of York Region (AHCYR) wants to know which candidates are advocates for affordable housing as we head into the last weeks before the Ontario municipal elections.

During the past two years, the coalition has surveyed municipal and regional politicians about their views on, and support of, policies that address the housing crisis in York Region. Policies like inclusionary zoning, the vacant homes tax and the provision of municipally owned land for building not-for-profit affordable housing. Unfortunately, response rates were quite low as compared to a significant response rate from the residents of York Region that reflected overwhelming support for these policy tools.

We’re in a housing crisis after all -- our representatives should put their cards on the table.

Heading into a municipal election, we decided to develop a pledge that asks all candidates running for office to commit to policies which would go a long way to addressing the housing crisis. Supportive housing is in particular demand for vulnerable populations such as those with developmental disabilities. Currently in Ontario, this population faces a 40-year waiting list for affordable housing with supports. Our pledge has been endorsed by 22 organizations in York Region that serve individuals and families who are in deep need of affordable housing.

The deadline for candidates to pledge their commitment to affordable housing is Oct. 7. We will release the candidates’ responses on Oct. 10 in time for you, the voters, to see where your candidate stands on the issue of affordable housing.

Please take the time to talk with your candidates, at the door, on the street or at town hall events and ask them where they stand on the issue of affordable and supportive housing for residents in York Region. Ask them if they’ve completed and returned the AHCYR survey. If they haven’t, ask them why not and then encourage them to do so.

You may hear from some candidates that housing is a provincial or federal issue. But nothing could be further from the truth. The responsibility for housing lies with all levels of government and the decisions to green light or stop affordable housing projects most often happen at the municipal level by decision makers that you are going to elect on Oct. 24.

It is absolutely critical we know who we are voting for and what their views are on this key issue that impacts everyone who calls York Region home.

For more information about the AHCYR candidate survey and the policy tools we are advocating for, please email socialplanningcouncilyr@gmail.com To see the results of the survey, please visit socialplanningcouncilyr.ca/ after Oct. 10.