David Raymond Amos@DavidRayAmos Replying to @DavidRayAmos@Kathryn98967631 and 49 others Methinks I should try to talk to Joanne Murray et al Higgy and Trudeau The Younger know I can be of assistance dealing minions within various levels of government who try hard to play dumb N'esy Pas?
Moncton explores creating housing authority for affordable homes
New non-profit created to buy, renovate derelict old homes
Shane Magee· CBC News· Posted: Dec 17, 2019 7:04 AM AT
Joanne Murray, executive director of the John Howard Society of Southeastern New Brunswick, says there's a risk that some landlords may stop using rent subsidies, making fewer affordable housing units available in Moncton. (Shane Magee/CBC)
A new non-profit is laying the groundwork to buy and renovate old homes to boost the availability of affordable housing in Moncton.
The concept was outlined at a Moncton city council meeting Monday, as city staff offered an update on the municipality's affordable housing plan.
Rising Tides Community Initiatives Inc. was launched by representatives of other non-profit groups in the city, including Debbie McInnis with the United Way and Joanne Murray with the John Howard Society.
"We need a body that can be the go-to for affordable housing, renovations … to become the experts in affordable housing in the city," Murray told councillors.
She said the work could also involve buying vacant land to develop affordable housing.
Information Morning - Moncton
Moncton community groups plan to create more affordable housing
A new non-profit called Rising Tides Community Initiatives is planning on buying derelict homes to turn into affordable housing. 15:47
Various agencies and non-profits provide or support housing for segments of the population, but there isn't one single entity that addresses affordable housing.
Rising Tides could use funds from various levels of government and other sources to address the need for cheaper accommodations in the city, she said.
Vincent Merola, the City of Moncton's community development officer for social inclusion, says a consultant is preparing a business plan for a potential housing authority responsible for boosting affordable housing in Moncton. (Shane Magee/CBC)
Vincent Merola, the City of Moncton's community development officer for social inclusion, told councillors a person making the minimum wage of $11.50 per hour can't afford to pay the average of $750 per month for a one bedroom apartment.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation calls housing affordable if it costs less than 30 per cent of a household's before-tax income.
Merola said there are 153 homeless people in Moncton and 1,600 people in the region on a waiting list for housing through the province.
The province's three-year affordable housing plan calls for building 151 new affordable housing units and renovating another 5,160 across the province at a cost of $32.8 million.
Murray, who through the John Howard Society, is working on plans for 20 units of affordable housing under that program. She said the project would take two years to open. But they can't spend that long adding 150 units to house people.
"If we have 151 people on the list [of people who are homeless]. I want to see 151, 153 — whatever the number is — I would love to see that many units added," Murray said. "That's the only way we can move forward. To say anything less is to say it's OK for half of them to be on the street."
She said they need to add affordable units faster than what's happening now. She said that's where the new Rising Tides organization could help by renovating existing properties.
Consultant preparing business plan
The city's affordable housing plan, approved by council in April, calls for exploring the creation of a housing authority.
Such an authority could be a not-for-profit, autonomous corporation, Merola said in a presentation to council. It would work with the three levels of government, business community and other social agencies to boost the availability of affordable housing.
Many of the details of how such an authority would function are still to be determined.
The city has hired a consultant, Georges Cormier, to look at potential business models, how such an authority would be funded and function. That plan is expected to be completed within the first three months of 2020, after which it would return to city council for consideration.
Merola said Rising Tides could end up taking on the authority role, depending on the results of the business plan.
Homelessness dominates agenda
"I'm done with studies, I'm done with reports," Coun. Brian Hicks said after hearing from Merola and Murray. "I think maybe the city is going to have to be the one that initiates this if we're really serious about it."
Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold said housing isn't traditionally municipal jurisdiction in New Brunswick. However, she said issues around housing and homelessness have come to dominate the agenda in recent years.
"We also have to step up," Arnold said told reporters after the meeting. "This is about creating the way forward so other levels of government come on board."
Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold says an authority, if approved by city council, could involve funding from the city. (Shane Magee/CBC)
The business plan would lay out potential funding sources, including from other levels of government.
Arnold said that while council has yet to see the plan, she expects there would be support for providing municipal funds to get the organization started.
Moncton is also exploring a policy to waive building and development fees for affordable housing projects.
David Raymond Amos "Rising Tides could use funds from various levels of government and other sources to address the need for cheaper accommodations in the city, she said. "
Methinks I should try to talk to Joanne Murray and the others Trust that Higgy and Trudeau The Younger know that I can be of assistance dealing with various levels of government who try hard to play dumb instead of helping the homeless folks among us N'esy Pas?
Tom Gordon Good idea! Someone's got to start somewhere.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Tom Gordon: I concur
Terry Tibbs Reply to @David Raymond Amos: But we both know it will come to nothing. The reason: the "needs test". As spaces are created they (naturally) will go to the most "needy". Single parent families, 2 parent families, the working poor with dependents, pretty well everyone else besides the original group this whole thing was created for. Seen it in Europe, Britain, TO, Vancouver, won't be surprised to see the very same thing here.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: I am talking about single person mini homes not un like the Hillbilly shack and camper I live in
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Can't expect immigrants to live in single person mini homes or campers now can we? Because that is exactly what this will become, watch..............
David Raymond Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Why not grow up and get a real name?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: I see CBC likes you
Gilles LeBlanc Here we go again, instead of lowering our property tax were gonna blow it and incourage another 150 to migrate to our city. Turning homes that mess up our property value into homeless shelters to compromise our equity too. Will be so happy to vote this mayor out ...
Roger Drisdelle
Reply to @Gilles LeBlanc: or you could just leave. Certainly don't need your kind around
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Gilles LeBlanc: Oh My My
Terry Tibbs This is not a situation where one solution fits all. Each, and every, homeless person finds themselves homeless for a reason, and each has a different reason. You HAVE to work with the individuals, as individuals, and create a custom recovery plan for each one. Otherwise it will end an expensive failure.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: What was the cause of my homelessness?
Terry Tibbs
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Didn't you say you had gotten an all expense paid vacation in the loony bin? Usually, either the bin, or jail, your stuff seems to simply evaporate while you are otherwise occupied. (and if that isn't what you said I apologize)
Gilles LeBlanc
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Or we could keep our tax money and our home equity out of it and allow non tax funded organisations to take up the slack. It's often times a choice like van life or a lack of wanting to conform. You don't feed chocolate to a child having a tantrum before bed.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Clearly you never read my lawsuit
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Gilles LeBlanc: Methinks its time for your nap N'esy Pas?
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Clearly you have no idea who I am or you would not be teasing me with such a ridiculous name
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks anyone can Google our names in order to figure who is for real and who is not N'esy Pas?
Tom Shultz We can't fix homelessness simply by providing housing. That will only temporary hide the pain.
Vancouver has made great efforts in enabling the homeless. The more money they spend, the more people become homeless. It's a positive feedback loop with no end in sight. They could quadruple their spending on the homeless and the number of homeless will likewise quadruple.
Homelessness is a symptom of a greater problem. To find a solution we have to focus on the individual, turning them from a take into a maker. We must strive to utilize every citizen and enable them to be self sustaining.
Gilles LeBlanc
Reply to @Tom Shultz: The balls in their court , every generation before us might have had this right. Were not smarter then the old timers or higher EQ.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Tom Shultz: This is not rocket science . Many people are homeless because they cannot get a mortgage or afford the rent on most places.
Ben Hague Excellent idea.Affordable units would help end homelessness & would be cheaper in the long run.The new tenants would than hopefully respect their new digs & treat them respectfully.
Gilles LeBlanc
Reply to @Ben Hague: Wishful thinking.... paying tennants can't even accomplish that.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Ben Hague: I agree
Richard Dunn Affordable housing is directly linked to our homelessness situation in Moncton. There are many examples of cities with bold, and out of the box, ideas that are helping to reduce homelessness. The homeless issue in Moncton is growing by the day, and has gotten out of control in the past four years, I think this will be a big issue in the spring election. We need to do better.
David Webb
Reply to @Richard Dunn: "There are many examples of cities with bold, and out of the box, ideas that are helping to reduce homelessness." Perhaps you could share with us some of those examples?
Reply to @Richard Dunn: I need to move to Dieppe or Riverview if this city keeps intertaining this.
Roger Drisdelle
Reply to @Gilles LeBlanc: please do
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Roger Drisdelle: Well put
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @David Webb: Surely you have heard of Habitat for Humanity
Donald Gallant Renovating a house is know to be fraught with the unexpected and very expensive. At least it has been for those I know.
Subsidization would be my recommendation.
David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Donald Gallant: Methinks the "Powers That Be" should build mini houses of about 500 square feet in size on vacant lots owned by the cities. Then for a third of their income rent them to folks living on their old age pension and the other folks trying to survive on welfare alone and the working poor trying to get by on minimum wages . The rental income would soon pay for the construction costs N'esy Pas?
