REGINA – As federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty aims to shrink Canada’s deficit, housing advocates hope for investment.
“If we’re kind of in a time of austerity, a lot of times the people on the fringes get hurt the worst,” said Tyler Gray, housing support coordinator at Carmichael Outreach.
The fringes include Regina’s homeless population.
Gray says at least $5-million more needs to be spent on housing for people with mental health or addictions issues in Regina alone, believing it would save the government money down the road.
“The under-funding of resources leaves us scrambling to get someone a place to live, as opposed to helping them stay in that place,” Gray said.
Mayor Michael Fougere hopes to see renewed support in cooperative housing, saying any further initiatives start with the federal government.
“With infrastructure and housing, a long-term program is critical,” said Fougere. “That will kick-start provincial additions.”
Long-term, he says, means at least five years – which Fougere also wants from a renewed Building Canada Fund.
That money would help fix crumbling roads – but just how much to each city remains a mystery.
“We have at least a $2-billion deficit on infrastructure renewal in our city,” Fougere said. “I don’t expect we’re going to have that answered in one year.”
Though some answers may come by the time Flaherty finishes delivering the federal budget on Tuesday.
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