Mayor’s Housing Summit looks for national solutions

REGINA – Delegates from around the country gathered at the long-anticipated Mayor’s Housing Summit Monday to discuss solutions to Regina’s housing crisis. They might have found it cold comfort that the challenges facing the Queen City are the same in many other Canadian cities.

“The waiting list for affordable housing is approximately 11 to 14 years,” said Susan Fennell, Mayor of Brampton.

The suburban city near Toronto joins the ranks of Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver and other municipalities grappling with similar issues.

“We need a national solution,” she said.

“The summit is designed to begin that dialogue and find overlaps and gaps in programming that could make things better,” Mayor Michael Fougere explained at a sod-turning for a new affordable housing complex, fittingly taking place on the same day.

The provincial and federal governments and Ranch Ehrlo have teamed up to build eight units in the heritage neighbourhood for young people in need. The province is prepared to do more.

“We’ve committed to $344 million by the year 2016 to build over 12,000 units,” said minister of social services, June Draude.

A report commissioned by the Association of Saskatchewan Realtors in 2010 says governments need to work closely with the private sector – and that tax policies and red tape are market disincentives.

“All three levels of government are involved in the policy arena as far as housing is concerned and that statement is directed at all,” said Gord Archibald, executive officer of the Association of Regina Realtors and summit presenter.

Municipalities, though might have the largest leadership role and need to keep the future in mind, says another presenter, private consultant and president of Intelligent Futures, John Lewis.

“How you build a city today – the structure of the city, lasts literally centuries,” he said.

Meanwhile, there is an “Alternative People’s Housing Summit” taking place alongside the Mayor’s. Organizers want there to be a greater focus on the people most impacted by housing issues. Community-based organizations, housing researchers and people who have dealt directly with homelessness will speak Tuesday on the convention floor in the Saskatchewan Hotel.

“What happens to a lot of individuals when they can’t find a place is they’re pushed into unsafe and unsanitary conditions, where maybe they’re living in an illegal spot, like a garage or basement – or places that really aren’t suitable for people to be living in. And also what we get is severe overcrowding,” said summit organizer, Marc Spooner.