County pressing for review of regional social housing formulas

By Ron Giofu

Essex County Council has not only approved moving ahead with eight affordable housing units in Leamington, but they also want a review of social housing funding formulas for the entire region.

County council approved the pre-commitment of $48,000 in its operating budget for the next 20 years support what is known as the Round 2 Rapid Housing Initiative project for The Bridge, which would help fund the creation of four units supported through The Bridge’s youth case management services and another four units to serve priority populations as rental housing.

However, while county officials were supportive of the creation of the units in Leamington, they also want much more done across the entire region.

“In the 22 years since the funding formulas for Ontario Works, Child Care and Social Housing were arbitrated, the need for new affordable housing units has increased within the region, however, there has not been any concerted discussions proposing a regional strategy to address affordable housing initiatives and no discussion on how both capital and operating costs of new affordable housing units would be funded,” said director of council and community services/ clerk Mary Birch. “It is the hope that more capital funding opportunities, such as the RHI, will make it possible to develop more affordable housing projects within the region, however, in order to meet tight funding application deadlines in the future and to be financially prepared to fund future affordable housing operating costs, it is the opinion of County Administration that regional discussions need to commence to develop a long-term strategy to build and fund capital and operational costs of additional affordable housing units throughout the region.

It is also the opinion of County Administration that, after twenty-two years, it would be appropriate to review the existing funding agreement for regional social housing costs and develop a new cost sharing agreement or addendum to the existing agreement that addresses cost sharing principles for new regional units and regional housing and homelessness initiatives.”

In addition to supporting the Leamington development, county council’s motion further requested Windsor City Council to support the commencement of discussions of the development of a regional affordable housing strategy, including funding responsibilities, and that county council also request the city to support the start of discussions on the review of the 1999 social housing cost sharing arbitrated agreement “with a view to addressing cost sharing provisions for new regional units and regional housing and homelessness initiatives.”

Essex Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche said he tried to work with people facing housing difficulties in his municipality and while they worked in Essex, many had to live in Windsor. Others had to scramble to find a couch to sleep on.

“It was heart-wrenching to see what they were going through,” he said.

Meloche added “there’s no accommodation for smaller communities out in the county.”

Warden Gary McNamara stated more housing stock in the county is “overdue” and that he is disappointed that higher levels of government direct funding to urban areas. He pointed out the county’s population is close to that of Windsor but “the county gets left out” with regards to funding sometimes.

“It’s almost us versus them,” he said, as he called on Ottawa and Queen’s Park “to look at the bigger picture.”

Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald believed the solution may have to “be driven by us” where local municipalities will have to do the work and then go to the city looking for funding.

“We’re going to have to bang the table,” said MacDonald.

MacDonald recalled being told affordable and social housing is not in the jurisdiction of local municipalities but she said they may have to change as they have to take care of their residents.

“It’s not an easy solution,” added LaSalle Mayor Marc Bondy. “We don’t have enough money in the county (to deal with the issue) and we don’t have enough money in the city.”

Doing anything they can to enhance the message and show data on the matter was promoted by Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos, noting there is an immediate need.

Jelena Payne, commissioner of community development and health services with the City of Windsor, said “the way the system is designed is for the masses.” She noted that many times, the pathway to housing can be through shelters but that is a temporary solution until housing is found.

Debbie Cercone, executive of housing and children’s services with the City of Windsor, said the county’s stock of housing units has risen by 330 in recent years and there is a recognition in Windsor that Essex County is growing.