Featured Guest
You’ll find this guest among our growing roll of Urban Champions.
Scott McKeen
Former Edmonton City Councillor
Rebecca Alty
Mayor of Yellowknife
Lisa Helps
Mayor of Victoria
Berry Vrbanovic
Mayor of Kitchener
Ana Bailão
Former Deputy Mayor, Toronto
5 Key
Takeaways
A roundup of the most compelling ideas, themes and quotes from this candid conversation
1. Municipalities are taking the lead
Prior to COVID-19, Canadian municipalities had already begun to tackle the dual challenges of homelessness and affordable housing. Today, as COVID-19 forces a greater number of Canadians onto the streets, many municipalities are doubling their efforts and finding innovative ways to house these vulnerable populations. Addressing the issue of homelessness has become integral to the fight against COVID-19, invoking the language of human rights across Canada and proving the necessity of collaboration across jurisdictions.
2. Protecting the right to home is the responsibility of all governments and sectors
While municipalities have made significant strides, there are limits to what they can accomplish on their own. Through collaborations with the federal and provincial/territorial governments, housing must become both more affordable and more plentiful. The non-profit and private sectors also have roles to play in ensuring the provision of affordable housing, as the public sector alone cannot keep up with growing demand.
3. It is time to shift from ad hoc plans to long-term housing solutions
Since the onset of COVID-19, many municipalities across Canada have forged ahead with new and innovative means of securing temporary housing for homeless populations. In some cases, cities have urgently procured hotels and motels to enable social distancing amongst people experiencing homelessness, or have renovated distressed buildings into social housing. Toronto, for example, reports housing 1300 people thus far during the pandemic. However, many cities have seen significant increases in homeless encampments as many shelters remain at capacity and people seek alternatives. As hotels re-open and hockey arenas reclaim their spaces, there is an urgent need to develop long-term viable housing strategies as we move into Canada’s socioeconomic recovery.
4. There is no one-size-fits-all approach
There are many reasons why individuals find themselves without a home – no story or experience is the same. As a result, the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness vary widely (despite the shared struggle to access housing). Efforts to address housing and homelessness must therefore be built in recognition of this diversity of needs. Among the examples mentioned by the panel, Ambrose Place in Edmonton serves one example of how supportive housing can be tailored to both people and place.
5. Recognizing the intersections between housing and health is essential
One cannot meaningfully address homelessness without also recognizing the intersectional nature of this issue. Homelessness is intrinsically tied to both physical and mental health. It is for this reason that Ambrose Place, and others like it, continue to provide their residents with a variety of additional supports that move beyond the simple provision of housing. Among the players that need to come to the table, ministries of health within all Canadian provinces are critical partners.
Additional Reading & Resources
City plan could end homelessness in Calgary (CBC)
A National Protocol for Homeless Encampments in Canada (Report by Leilani Farha and Kaitlin Schwan)
Why Canada needs a non-market rental acquisition strategy. May 2020 (Focus Consulting)
Ambrose Place: Love and Decolonizing Housing, Health and Wellness (Mayor Lisa Helps)
Women’s Housing: balancing ‘scaling-up’ and ‘caring’ in Montreal, Gatineau and Ottawa (uOttawa)
Full Panel
Transcript
Note to readers: This video session was transcribed using auto-transcribing software. Manual editing was undertaken in an effort to improve readability and clarity. Questions or concerns with the transcription can be directed to events@canurb.org with “transcription” in the subject line.
Full Audience
Chatroom Transcript
Note to reader: Chat comments have been edited for ease of readability. The text has not been edited for spelling or grammar. For questions or concerns, please contact events@canurb.org with “Chat Comments” in the subject lin
From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our webinars at https://canurb.org/citytalk
12:01:05 From Angie Desmarais: Hello from Port Colborne, Ontario
12:01:08 From Sarah Potts: Hello from Victoria
12:01:21 From Anthony Manning: Hello from White Rock, BC
12:01:34 From Canadian Urban Institute: Welcome! Folks, please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments.
12:01:37 From Caroline Poole, CUI Staff: Joining us on today’s panel:
Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão, Toronto ON: https://twitter.com/anabailaoTO
Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Kitchener ON: https://twitter.com/berryonline
Mayor Lisa Helps, Victoria BC: https://twitter.com/CityOfVictoria
Mayor Rebecca Alty, Yellowknife YT: https://twitter.com/OurYellowknife
Councillor Scott McKeen, Edmonton AB: https://twitter.com/Scott_McKeen
12:01:43 From Pat Petrala to All panelists: Morning from White Rock BC
12:02:10 From Canadian Urban Institute: Welcome attendees! Where are you tuning in from today?
12:02:13 From Mayor Lisa Helps: I’m no longer on Twitter! Better to find me here www.lisahelpsvictoria.ca
12:02:15 From Lisa Moffatt: Hello from the stolen and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, namely the səlil’wətaʔɬ and Skwxwú7mesh First Nations, and the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Indian Band (what we also call Vancouver and the Lower Mainland).
12:02:28 From Sam Franey: hello from Courtenay, BC
12:02:39 From Canadian Urban Institute: Keep the conversation going #right2housing #citytalk @canurb
12:02:49 From Mayor Lisa Helps: https://lisahelpsvictoria.ca/
12:02:52 From Laurel Davies Snyder: Hello from Stratford, ON.
12:03:01 From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our webinars at https://www.canurb.org/citytalk
12:03:04 From Rosalie Shewchuk to All panelists: Rosalie Shewchuk Hello from Montreal
12:03:16 From Sharon Dorion: Hello from Midland, ON
12:03:25 From Julie Edney to All panelists: Hello from Osoyoos, BC!
12:03:35 From Toby Greenbaum: Hello from Ottawa.
12:03:37 From Kathy Suggitt: Hello from Barrie, ON
12:03:43 From Daniella Balasal: Hello from Brampton, ON
12:03:45 From Lisa Landrum to All panelists: Hello from Winnipeg
12:03:48 From Carolyn Whitzman: Hello from unceded Algonquin land, aka Ottawa.
12:03:49 From Negin Minaei: Good afternoon from Toronto
12:03:50 From Alison James: Morning all! Victoria, BC
12:03:59 From Cynthia Dovell: hello from Edmonton alberta – Hi councillor Scott McKeen!
12:04:08 From Kimberley Sproul: Here from Kitchener, ON:)
12:04:17 From Alexandra Flynn to All panelists: Hello all from Whistler, territories of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations
12:04:21 From Scott Argue to All panelists: Hello, from Edmonton!
12:04:22 From cindymacrae to All panelists: Good afternoon all! Kitchener, Ontario
12:04:26 From Canadian Urban Institute: Sign up to watch two provocative and eye-opening documentaries about the right to home: Free and on-demand, all week long, July 24–August 2 https://canurb.org/right-to-home
12:04:38 From Kenechukwu Ibezi: Saskatoon SK, present!
12:04:38 From Charles Nichols: that makes two of us in Kitchener
12:04:48 From Haseena Manek: Learn more about The Shift at www.maketheshift.org@
12:04:49 From Haseena Manek: @
12:05:04 From Alexandra Flynn to All panelists: Love the bright blue wall!
12:05:08 From Celia Chandler: hello from sunny Weston in the northwest of Toronto. this is a community like so many others that is in serious need of affordable housing. such a great series this week!
12:05:08 From Beverly Allard to All panelists: Good morning everyone and again from Edmonton – nice to see you Councillor McKeen!
12:05:11 From Tracey Snook to All panelists: welcome MayorBar! (here in Kitchener too)
12:05:23 From Ashley Michell to All panelists: Bin Honzu (Beautiful Morning), Ashley Michell, The Indigenous Housing Support Worker. From Smithers BC.
12:05:30 From Maxine Mease to All panelists: Hello from Fort St. John in Northern BC
12:05:52 From Ashley Michell: Bin Honzu (Beautiful Morning), Ashley Michell, The Indigenous Housing Support Worker. From Smithers BC.
12:06:04 From reg nalezyty: here from Thunder Bay
12:06:05 From Rowena Locklin: Hello from Victoria’s Hillside Quadra neighbourhood. Thanks for the movie screenings.
12:06:13 From Ashley Michell: Can I get a link for the film Push?
12:06:36 From Canadian Urban Institute: Reminding attendees to please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments.
12:06:40 From Caroline Poole, CUI Staff to Ashley Michell and all panelists: Hi Ashley! You can access the films here: https://canurb.org/right-to-home
12:07:04 From Yvonne Kelly to All panelists: Hello from York Region and our @R2HYorkRegion Team!
12:07:08 From Alynne Neault: Good morning from north Vancouver Island – Aboriginal Outreach Housing worker
12:07:17 From Tracey Snook to All panelists: US & Them: https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&id=cc7333c75d&e=[UNIQID] Push: https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&id=49e3dd8017&e=[UNIQID]
12:07:24 From Ahmed Mohammed Moola to All panelists: Good Evening from South Africa
12:07:26 From Adrienne Richard: Greeting from Heartland Housing Foundation in Strathcona County – Treaty 6 territory and the traditional lands and gathering places for the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibway/Saulteaux/Anishinaabe, Inuit, and others.
12:07:39 From Canadian Urban Institute to Tracey Snook and all panelists: Tracy can you change your chat settings ?that only went to panelists. Thanks!
12:07:50 From Canadian Urban Institute to Tracey Snook and all panelists: sorry; Tracey:)
12:08:11 From Tracey Snook: US & Them: https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&id=cc7333c75d&e=[UNIQID] Push: https://us3.campaign-archive.com/?u=f47fe5ecd01cfe0eeeec18182&id=49e3dd8017&e=[UNIQID]
12:09:28 From Ashley Michell: Thank you Caroline Poole
12:10:51 From Mayor Rebecca Alty: My apologizes! I’m here in Yellowknife. The City of Yellowknife acknowledges that we are located in Chief Drygeese territory. From time immemorial, it has been and is the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
12:11:06 From Deidre Hill: Deidre Hill, from the traditional territories of the Lekwungen peoples
12:13:38 From Carolyn Whitzman: That point of cities just doing it for themselves is almost impossible without direct fed support as well as pressure on provincial/ territorial govts who aren’t providing enough housing with support services.
12:14:19 From Marion Goertz: Good to hear about the proactivity of Edmonton City Council. I’m in Calgary and curious about what’s happening locally. I need to check that out!
12:15:39 From Carolyn Whitzman: @marion, calgary is going at it alone as well- more power to their arm! https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-plan-to-end-homelessness-covid-19-alberta-1.5661308
12:16:15 From Faryal Diwan to All panelists: A Better Tent City in Kitchener: https://civichubwr.org/a-better-tent-city/
12:16:43 From Ashley Michell: The Shelter here closed down, If only the small town of Smithers would be current with times like the cities.
12:16:44 From Faryal Diwan to All panelists: https://civichubwr.org/unsheltered-campaign/
12:17:06 From Canadian Urban Institute to Faryal Diwan and all panelists: Hi, Faryal! Can you change your chat settings? Your excellent links are only going to panelists. Thanks!
12:17:13 From Faryal Diwan to All panelists: oops thanks!
12:17:20 From Kimberley Sproul: The average citizen, too, has a role to play
12:17:46 From Faryal Diwan: A Better Tent City in Kitchener: https://civichubwr.org/a-better-tent-city/
12:17:48 From Kimberley Sproul: Here in Kitchener, average citizens prompted huge efforts then supported by systems.
12:18:01 From Charles Nichols: I agree Kim, but how do we motive the average person
12:18:18 From Faryal Diwan: Unsheltered Campaign for Waterloo Region: https://civichubwr.org/unsheltered-campaign/
12:18:24 From Yvonne Kelly to All panelists: I missed hearing where Councillor Scott McKeen is from.
12:18:26 From Sam Franey: I’ve been unhoused for over four years and counting, and am currently registering a project as a nonprofit that would house, educate, and rehabilitate others that are unhoused as well as provide housing to low income seniors called Comox Valley Unhoused Society. Keep an eye out for it!!
12:18:26 From Kimberley Sproul: *sigh* @Charles, huge questions
12:18:30 From Karine LeBlanc to All panelists: To learn more about the federal housing response to the pandemic, see https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en or follow @CMHC_ca on Twitter for updates
12:18:48 From Murray Lumley to All panelists: From East York, Toronto.
12:18:51 From Mayor Lisa Helps: @Yvonne, he’s from Edmonton
12:18:59 From Mary W Rowe to Yvonne Kelly and all panelists: edmonton
12:19:10 From Canadian Urban Institute to Karine LeBlanc and all panelists: Hi, Karine! Can you change your chat settings? Your link only went to panelists. Thanks!
12:19:13 From Yvonne Kelly to All panelists: Thank you!
12:19:20 From Alynne Neault: @sam – such exciting news for the valley! can’t wait to see it happen
12:19:39 From Kimberley Sproul: @Sam thank you for taking on and tackling issues that you have first hand experience and expertise on. That will be a game changer. Best of luck
12:20:11 From Marko Curuvija: Thank you all for participating!
12:20:19 From Karine LeBlanc: For more information on the federal housing response to the pandemic, see https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en or follow @CMHC_ca on Twitter for updates
12:20:23 From Lisa Moffatt: Yes @sam! Having those with lived experience in the conversation is vital. Thank you for your leadership on this project.
12:20:56 From Mayor Berry Vrbanovic: Kimberley Sproule – you’re absolutely right. It’s been one of the best parts of working on this – the strong support form our community to address these challenges. Whether as active participants or those who are simply supportive of the work – this is key to ensure the city, the region and our partners can move these important issues forward.
12:21:52 From Murray Lumley to All panelists: Thanks Ana, great report.
12:22:16 From Canadian Urban Institute: Welcome new joiners! Just a reminder to please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees” so everyone can see your comments.
12:25:08 From André Darmanin: hello from Vaughan. late to the game.
12:25:11 From Murray Lumley: Thanks Ana, great report.
12:25:33 From André Darmanin: Hi Scott from my Edmonton pre councillor days.
12:25:42 From Marko Curuvija: Wondering – do any of the mayors view the future of permanent housing as having specific focus’ on specific populations (ie for drug using, radicalized, non-drug using, outdoors) or more large scale facilities for multiple groups?
12:25:43 From Dina Graser: I’ve been living near Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto for 16years. The odd tent was not uncommon but this was the first time I saw an actual tent city in the park.
12:26:09 From Murray Lumley: Greetings from East York, Toronto.
12:26:12 From Alynne Neault: Our bylaw officers are STILL visiting encampments and making our unsheltered folks take down their tents and remove belongings in the morning
12:26:32 From Kaitlin Schwan: The former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Leilani Farha, prepared a Protocol on what a human rights approach to homeless encampments looks like: https://www.unhousingrapp.org/user/pages/07.press-room/A%20National%20Protocol%20for%20Homeless%20Encampments%20in%20Canada.pdf
12:26:35 From André Darmanin: @Dina. first time I saw a tent city at Alexandra Park. It’s telling.
12:28:23 From Allison Ashcroft to All panelists: in Victoria, due to prior issues and resident complaints, a number of Victoria parks are arbitrarily banned from camping. that’s left basically two parks for camping and camping on- street.
12:28:23 From Mary W Rowe to Alynne Neault and all panelists: where are you?
12:28:50 From Alynne Neault: Are there plans to house these folks after the pandemic? It would be devastating to force them back onto the street post pandemic
12:29:54 From Negin Minaei: @Dina, I have seen many tents in Warden Woods Parks and Massy Creek Trail. Couple of days ago I saw they collected one tent which was near the Warden street entrance and the person’s luggage was yellow taped on the ground. Probably will share those photos on twitter.
12:30:42 From Donna Mayer: Steve Pomeroy Report: https://www.focus-consult.com/why-canada-needs-a-non-market-rental-acquisition-strategy/
12:30:50 From Nicole Coutinho to All panelists: I believe the City of montreal is taking measure with new developments to preserve some affordable housing
12:30:51 From Catherine Boucher: Acquisitions, yes please. CMHC just woke up to this but it is where most poor people live.
12:31:17 From Guillermo (Gil) Penalosa: Ana Bailao is a very good deputy mayor, but slowed by her boss. Hotels and similar support for homeless has been good, timely. But, best possibility to do housing is in public property. Toronto has approved 11 sites, just 1/33 for deep affordable, nothing! Over 65% market rate, crazy. Increase market through incentives, not in public property! Vancouver is doing just deep & affordable; should be the norm everywhere.
12:31:25 From Allison Ashcroft to All panelists: the concentration of camping and lack of services ie sanitation is problematic as is the proximity of campers to playgrounds and sport field whcih are heavily used in a marginalized community. the sentiment in the case of north park in Victoria isn’t anti-homelessness, it is pro wellbeing and it is heated because these populations are already struggling with resilience and precarity, both those housed and unhoused in our nghbd.
12:31:28 From Joy Connelly: Yes – read Steve Pomeroy’s report and push for this recommendations – very practical and doable
12:32:03 From Marko Curuvija: Lisa has stood up for human rights throughout the pandemic and allowed unhoused people the right to sleep in parks amidst intense backlash. Respect!
12:32:03 From Carolyn Whitzman: also Steve Pomeroy authored a national Recovery for All plan: https://caeh.ca/wp-content/uploads/Recovery-for-All-Report-July-16-2020.pdf
12:32:03 From Kimberley Sproul: Yes yes yes yes. Supports are AS CRUCIAL as the realization and work towards housing/home. Thanks to all the panelists for including both of these
12:32:41 From Canadian Urban Institute to Allison Ashcroft and all panelists: Hi, Allison! Can you change your chat settings? Your excellent comment only went to panelists. Thanks!
12:32:43 From André Darmanin: i keep hearing about “wrap-around” services in American circles. what about here?
12:32:54 From Carolyn Whitzman: Not only is @Lisa brave and visionary, I like her blue walls! Total win!
12:33:08 From Claudia Malacrida to All panelists: I wonder if any of the leaders here have ideas about how developers can be made to contribute positively – by asking for a percentage of investment to go toward affordable units, for example?
12:33:41 From Marko Curuvija: What was the name of the centre he’s talking about, I missed it?
12:33:56 From Julie Edney: @Mark Ambrose Place
12:33:58 From Lisa Moffatt: @Marko Ambrose Place
12:34:01 From Marko Curuvija: ty
12:34:11 From Mayor Lisa Helps: Ambrose place. I did a blog post after visiting it. I’ll dig it up!
12:34:41 From Mayor Lisa Helps: https://lisahelpsvictoria.ca/2019/06/21/ambrose-place-love-and-decolonizing-housing-health-and-wellness/
12:34:49 From Allison Ashcroft to All panelists: agree with mayor helps. we will focus so hard on building 500 new units and miss that 3 buildings with 2000 units just fell into the hands of REITs like Starlight and will through turnover have an entire building of market rental within 10 yrs. and besides a loss in net affordable units, we are also losing the healthy distribution of middle and working class families in ‘tony’ neigbourhoods that govt is not able tto/willing to pay land costs for in new construction of afforsable/nonmarket housing.
12:35:08 From André Darmanin: I will have to bookmark this post @lisa
12:35:15 From Chris Robinson: @MayorHelps, the UK has experimented with Community Land Trusts for housing provision by the community. One group I worked with in London, UK is called StART https://www.startharingey.co.uk. They negotiated with local government to halt a private sector building for one led by the community.
12:35:15 From Marko Curuvija: Another amazing model here in Victoria is Anawim House (anawimhouse.com) long-term recovery for men, ED has lived experience. The most successful long-term recovery I’ve seen in 5 years working in vic
12:35:25 From Allison Ashcroft: agree with mayor helps. we will focus so hard on building 500 new units and miss that 3 buildings with 2000 units just fell into the hands of REITs like Starlight and will through turnover have an entire building of market rental within 10 yrs. and besides a loss in net affordable units, we are also losing the healthy distribution of middle and working class families in ‘tony’ neigbourhoods that govt is not able tto/willing to pay land costs for in new construction of afforsable/nonmarket housing.
12:35:25 From Scott Argue: HomeEd has been a pleasure to work with! Huge supporter of Housing First in recent years.
12:35:49 From Allison Ashcroft: the concentration of camping and lack of services ie sanitation is problematic as is the proximity of campers to playgrounds and sport field whcih are heavily used in a marginalized community. the sentiment in the case of north park in Victoria isn’t anti-homelessness, it is pro wellbeing and it is heated because these populations are already struggling with resilience and precarity, both those housed and unhoused in our nghbd.
12:36:04 From Krista Allan: Thanks Councillor McKeen for all of your advocacy! Proud to live in Edmonton – Oliver!
12:36:18 From Marko Curuvija: The other thing about places like Ambrose place/ Anawim is it’s success makes it so much easier to have community buy in
12:36:25 From Chris Bell: I think when we’re talking about whether ‘the market does, or does not do x’ — we should try and qualify this. Our housing market is engineered by government policies and regulations that privilege some populations, choices, housing types, etc. over others. So much of these biases get normalized in everyday conversations. What would a better engineered (by government policies) market, that is compliant with the right to housing?
12:36:26 From André Darmanin: @chris…so had Parkdale. it’s too bad with all that’s going on in Jane and Finch these days, that there aren’t the resources to start up a land trust.
12:36:35 From Leila Ghaffari: In Montreal, an important challenge is the definition of “affordable housing” and preserving this “affordability” throughout time. Affordable units do not remain affordable. Are there experiences in other Canadian cities with a successful “affordable housing” agenda?
12:37:28 From Lisa Moffatt: I’m working with a small Alberta muni on affordable housing strategy. I’d love if folks have examples of land trusts for housing in Alberta.
12:37:48 From Marko Curuvija: @ Alison The homeless have no where to go and there is no housing available for them. Parks are the safest place for them to be in many cases. They are also safer together in their community. What would you do in that position?
12:38:05 From Carolyn Whitzman: sorry to self-publicize, but I co-authored a recent report on the importance of scaling up women’s housing WITH services. There’s a notion that there is a uni-directional ‘housing ladder’ and people only need services short-term and once. Not true – as we see in Long Term Care, most people need services at some point in their lives and many people need support throughout https://womenshomelessness.ca/wp-content/uploads/Scaling-up-and-Caring-report-Feb-2020-published.pdf
12:38:10 From Allison Ashcroft: Anawim is a great model. looking forward to seeing their women’s Anawim open. while there may be fewer women unhoused, they have special needs and greater risks of harm than men. women have also been shown across the board to be more adversely affected by covid.
12:38:11 From Claudia Malacrida to All panelists: @charles – thanks for that comment. I think the market is seen as something that is beyond engineering, but it is in face manipulable, even at local levels. Hence my question about asking for community investment from property developers as part of the market system, to normal social responsibility as a cost of doing business.
12:38:38 From André Darmanin: @lisa. Check out Parkdale in Toronto. I can’t remember the full name. They presented at the Future Cities conference in November.
12:39:03 From Chris Bell: @Lisa — my understanding is HomeSpace in Calgary is actually the former Calgary Community Land Trust (which received the Calgary Homeless Foundation’s housing portfolio)
12:39:09 From Lisa Moffatt: Thanks @André. I’m finding the legislation in Alberta is so restrictive.
12:39:14 From Lisa Moffatt: Thanks @Chris
12:39:37 From Canadian Urban Institute to Claudia Malacrida and all panelists: Hi, Claudia! Can you change your chat settings? Your comment only went to panelists. Thanks!
12:39:42 From Mayor Lisa Helps: Thanks @Chris and @Andre!
12:39:47 From Carolyn Whitzman: There is a Canadian network of community land trusts, including Alberta CLTs: https://www.communityland.ca/
12:39:56 From Joy Connelly: Returning to the financialization and acquisitions issue from a land trust perspective, check out the Beat the REITs video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhEcn2WVb9s&t=4646s
12:40:01 From Sara Andre to All panelists: It is concerning that all the parks are turning into camp grounds. Where kids play. One got caught stealing a bike and police called on him and he laughed and said yeah they wont do anything but at least ill get a free meal out of it. This kind of situation concerns me with more and more tent cities poping up.
12:40:22 From Lisa Moffatt: Thanks @joy
12:40:26 From Claudia Malacrida: @charles – thanks for that comment. I think the market is seen as something that is beyond engineering, but it is in face manipulable, even at local levels. Hence my question about asking for community investment from property developers as part of the market system, to normal social responsibility as a cost of doing business.
12:40:28 From Catherine Boucher: The focus on dealing with homelessness is always what comes up when we talk to municipalities. Makes sense as people end up on the streets of cities. But there are also lots of poor folks struggling to compete in the rental market who don’t have other needs but affordability. And vouchers are not the answer. We need a significant amount of good stock which is not subject to market vagaries.
12:41:03 From Caroline Poole, CUI Staff to Sara Andre and all panelists: Hi Sara! Could you please change your chat settings to “all panelists and attendees”? Your comment was only sent to panelists.
12:41:28 From Sara Andre to All panelists: Oh I don’t know how to do that lol sorry!
12:41:40 From Nicole Coutinho to All panelists: yes
12:42:07 From Marko Curuvija: Yes Berry! So many people would love a better tent city! It needs to be properly supported and designed with people who are going to be using it. So many people I’ve spoken to in my front line work would buy in to that. Hvala jepa!
12:42:12 From Caroline Poole, CUI Staff to Sara Andre and all panelists: You can find it in the blue dropdown square over the chat box!
12:42:20 From Sara Andre: Oh I fixed it. Thank you!
12:42:27 From Tracey Snook: LOT42 is really a cool thing – impressive that this is, for many of the folks, their first “home” and you can see their pride with building other sustainability practices, like planting vegetables
12:43:47 From Edith Gingras: What are some options in regulating the rental market?
12:44:20 From Allison Ashcroft: yes parkfale community land trust has bought up murbs when they come available. but too little, they need more money and resources to really stem tide of the REITs descending on parkdale. govt needs to step in and buy these buildings by offering something the REITs cannot. these 60s-80s buildings of 50-250 units have historically been own led by groups of doctors and dentists and lawyers whose financial planners pushed them towards thewe investments. these owners are retired and have long paid off these buildings but they’re reluctant to invest in real upgrades and so there is ton of deferred maintenance in these buildings and rent cashflow are insufficient for this. now with concern of nonpayment of rent, landlords are happy to bail and ripe for the picking by REITs but when they sell they will have huge capital gains hit. federal govt can step in and give capital gains exemptions to these owners if they sell/donate these buildings to nonprofit housing providers/community land trusts/municipal govt etc
12:44:23 From Kimberley Sproul: Thank you @Ana. People can and will die. We cannot talk about home and housing without talking about health. As such, it is crucial Ministry of Health to be involved.
12:44:49 From Lisa Moffatt: @Edith, it’s under provincial jurisdiction
12:44:50 From Carolyn Whitzman: Municipalities MUST provide housing targets at all income levels/ types/ sizes. Then and only then can they start looking at long term mechanisms like CLTs, acquiring buildings and lands, inclusionary zoning etc. Vancouver is the only city that comes close on this.
12:44:54 From Sara Andre: It is concerning that all the parks are turning into camp grounds. Where kids play. One got caught stealing a bike and police called on him and he laughed and said yeah they wont do anything but at least ill get a free meal out of it. This kind of situation concerns me with more and more tent cities poping up. Reposting so everyone can see my comment this time.
12:45:28 From Leila Ghaffari: Yes @Ana. Overcrowded units proved to be a health threatening problem during the pandemic.
12:45:38 From Lisa Moffatt: YES! Pension funds. They are risk averse. They want to keep the land and why not develop purpose built rental for ongoing income?
12:45:53 From Lisa Moffatt: @Sara – speaks to underlying issues.
12:45:59 From Ahmed Mohammed Moola: Thought this was a good idea https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-16/to-fill-vacant-units-barcelona-seizes-apartments
12:46:22 From Alynne Neault: @ahmed – loved this article
12:46:25 From André Darmanin: @carolyn. There needs to be more creativity I terms of the housing targets and allotment of affordable housing units.
12:46:39 From Marko Curuvija: @Sara Yes, sometimes people that are homeless commit crimes, just as housed people too. There are a wide variety of people living in the parks and all are there out of wanting to survive. If you want to change the dynamic of your parks, lets get people permanent housing. If you’re interested in hearing the stories of people in our parks, check out www.facebook.com/theexistenceproject
12:47:30 From Allison Ashcroft: we are pushing hard for pension funds to divest from fossil fuels, there should be equal call to cut off the flow to REITs that eradicate affordable apt housing. Use social impact bonds to buy these buildings and create social imapct REITs that provide instititional investors with an option to buy into REITs that provide returns and community benefit
12:47:33 From Sara Andre: Marko that sounds interesting I will do that!
12:47:49 From Marko Curuvija::)
12:47:54 From Sara Andre::)
12:47:56 From Sam Franey: Concept paper for the Comox Valley Unhoused Society: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSsb1EHBXxxJpnh5m3-wi5cncHHmpq_ia765T53l8YzO-XfpRql7omcF_WaQezgw6g_plBksj4c_Y6H/pub
12:48:02 From Alynne Neault: These folks can’t even think about healing when their main focus is survival – it’s a full time job surviving homelessness
12:48:09 From Marko Curuvija: yep^
12:48:10 From Adrienne Richard: Anyone else doing work on what happens when the COVID mortgage deferral program ends in October? Alberta is going to get hit hard, and I feel like the ripple effects will be felt at all levels.
12:50:27 From Allison Ashcroft: matching funds from diff levels of govt are great but insufficient and unable to compete in the market with REITs. need to cut off the flow to REITs from our pension funds and need to provide some capital gains tax exemptions to provide reason for these landowners to sell buildings to nonprofit housing providers or cities over the higher prices and simpler sales that REITs can offer.
12:50:35 From Tracey Snook: @ Carolyn – agree re mandate for housing guarantees at all levels – and where possible permanent requirement in zoning and development levels for this mix. May help with NIMBY and start to foster YIMBY
12:50:48 From Mayor Lisa Helps: https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/regional-housing-first-program
12:51:36 From Marko Curuvija: This was the best panel of the week imo. I wish we could hear from all of you every month and hear how things are progressing.
12:51:54 From Canadian Urban Institute: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our webinars at https://www.canurb.org/citytalk
12:51:59 From Alison James: Another plug for Marko’s Existence Project. The conversations are so important and do the good work of helping humanize what is too often a divisive issue: www.facebook.com/theexistenceproject
12:52:00 From Sara Andre: I agree its nice to be informed what is happening in our cities.
12:52:13 From Lisa Moffatt: @Alison – REITs might not even need to sell, but create partnerships for non-profits to operate
12:52:47 From Marko Curuvija: Totally!
12:52:56 From Carolyn Whitzman: Hamburg does real housing plans, but alas it is hard to find an English description. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313410958_City_strategies_for_affordable_housing_the_approaches_of_Berlin_Hamburg_Stockholm_and_Gothenburg
12:53:07 From Canadian Urban Institute: Keep the conversation going #right2housing #citytalk @canurb
12:53:57 From Vanessa Mueggler to All panelists: Interesting article: https://www.dwell.com/article/rapid-shelter-innovation-showcase-housing-innovation-collaborative-17dbb562
12:54:01 From Sara Andre: I missed Mondays webinar is there a copy of it ?
12:54:21 From Cam W to All panelists: Victoria City was effective in pressuring the province to provide hotels, but as in 2016 there image been the problem of the province focusing mainly on removing visible tent cities. This resulted in people outside the 2 main areas not getting into housing, and many are now camping in a 3rd area that many housed people are viciously raging against and the Premier is pressuring the city to crack down on. How can cities find ways to force provinces to solve the actual problem, not just their PR problem?
12:54:24 From Guillermo (Gil) Penalosa: Toronto found $2Billion to move 100 meters a piece of the elevated Gardiner to save 3 minutes to 2% of commuters. It is 50% of the Transport Capital 10 year budget; a Blvd was $500 million. Imagine the impact in Housing using those $1.5 Billion saved. Clearly, Housing is not enough of a priority for the mayor & friends in Council. There is money, for cars.
12:54:26 From Kimberley Sproul: @Rebecca thanks for this comment about how we might rethink all budget lines! So much intersection!
12:54:40 From Canadian Urban Institute to Vanessa Mueggler and all panelists: Hi, Vanessa! Thanks for sharing! Can you change your chat settings to all panelists and attendees and re-send? Thanks@!
12:55:10 From Canadian Urban Institute to Sara Andre and all panelists: You can find transcripts and recordings of today’s and all our webinars at https://www.canurb.org/citytalk
12:55:11 From Ashley Michell: Takes a community to raise a child. Right now it takes a community to pull together and work towards a better future for our people that are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
12:55:28 From Cam W to All panelists: *”there has been the problem” sorry for typo above
12:55:35 From Guillermo (Gil) Penalosa: I meant to move a piece of the Gardiner 100 meters to the North, not just 100 meters of Hwy.
12:55:38 From Sara Andre: Thank you
12:56:16 From Joy Connelly: Fabulous panel. Your progressive ideas and commitment are inspiring. Special thanks to Councillor Bailao for your leadership in my home town
12:56:19 From Ahmed Mohammed Moola: Can construction costs on new builds be lowered through “material mining” from older buildings undergoing LEED retrofitting projects?
12:56:39 From Canadian Urban Institute: Sign up to watch two provocative and eye-opening documentaries about the right to home: Free and on-demand, all week long, July 24–August 2 https://canurb.org/right-to-home
12:56:42 From Ashley Michell: Mesi Chyo (Thank you). Great listen.
12:56:44 From Allison Ashcroft: @lisa I’m actually not speaking about the buildings already owned by reits in Toronto and Victoria in particular, tho good idea to try to partner with those existing reits in some way tho not sure what leverage there is. I’m more concerned with the surge these REITs are going to make now with murb buildings even more discounted than usual and landlords even more open to selling because of precarity and insufficiency of rent revs and big costs coming soon re rehab of these buildings. this model is so lucrative to REITs and snowball their ability to buy more buildings and devastate entire nghbds and eradicate larger more affordable units.
12:57:05 From André Darmanin: i missed the first bit of this panel, but it’s great to hear from everyone on the panel and again another lively chat.
12:57:06 From Murray Lumley: Gil Penalosa is right. Ana please note – the unnecessary spending on The Gardiner Xpressway. Divert the $1.5 billion to affordable housing.
12:57:22 From Canadian Urban Institute: What did you think of today’s conversation? Help us improve our programming with a short post-webinar survey – https://bit.ly/3fbz0Ij
12:57:39 From André Darmanin: Teardown Gardiner East.
12:57:52 From Mayor Lisa Helps: @Alison I agree. We need a fund to buy buildings FROM the private sector when they are planning on selling.
12:58:19 From Mayor Lisa Helps: Capital Regional Housing Corp could own them, keep them in public hands for every.
12:59:38 From Tracey Snook: new-world-wartime-housing?
12:59:48 From Ashley Michell: Incorporate Cultural sensitivity towards our people of colour in the Housing first.
13:00:14 From Marko Curuvija: Hell yeah
13:00:20 From Alynne Neault: Force developers to include a number of affordable units, waive DCs as incentive?
13:00:21 From Kathy Suggitt: Great discussion today. Thank you all
13:00:26 From Jared Dielwart to All panelists: Thank you everyone!
13:00:29 From Howard Brown to All panelists: Excellent session. Well done. Keep up your efforts on this important issue!
13:00:31 From Leila Ghaffari: Great panel. Thank you all.
13:00:39 From Faryal Diwan: Thank you!
13:00:39 From Allison Ashcroft: In Victoria’s small park with 25 campers there is one portajohn for park goers and campers. ans campera are 3 metres away from playgrounds. the nhood is upset understandably as 60% live in apts and rely heavily on this small park. but… all that said, our nghbd association is delivering food hamper every Thursday, advocating for better sanitation and the neghbours are even doing a daily sandwich drive too. so.. tough but nghbd is rallying and not directing anger at inidividuals but systems
13:00:39 From Devyn Hanna: Great panel, It would be nice to see where these strategies go as cities move beyond housing for covid. Thanks Everyone!
13:00:41 From Kimberley Sproul: Many many many thanks for this
13:00:45 From Ahmed Mohammed Moola: Good Idea @Allyne
13:00:48 From Maureen McGuire: Great idea Lisa Helps. CMHC has the experience. We need to push the Fed’s on this.
13:00:50 From Marko Curuvija: Best chat of the week. Thanks everyone!
13:00:50 From Sara Andre: Thank you !
13:00:51 From Lisa Moffatt: @Alison and @Lisa, yes, buy if they are selling, otherwise partnership with non-profits.
13:00:53 From Richard Clarke to All panelists: Thanks to the panelists!
13:00:58 From Lisa Moffatt: Thank you all!
13:01:17 From Celia Chandler: Such a great week, thanks.
13:01:22 From Nemoy Lewis to All panelists: Great discussion!! Thanks to you all.
13:01:27 From Lisa Moffatt: Enjoy your break @Mary!
13:01:35 From Toby Greenbaum: Well deserved break! This has been great.
13:01:38 From Negin Minaei: Thank you CanUrb, housing is a super important matter to deal with.
13:01:44 From Abby S: Noooo…what are we going to do at noon in Toronto?
13:01:49 From Negin Minaei: Goodbye
13:01:51 From Faryal Diwan: Thank you!
13:01:52 From Laurel Davies Snyder: Fantastic week of discussions, ideas, empathy. Thank you. Stay safe & well everyone.
13:01:53 From Canadian Urban Institute: What did you think of today’s conversation? Help us improve our programming with a short post-webinar survey – https://bit.ly/3fbz0Ij
13:02:00 From Abby S: These have been fantastic…
13:02:00 From Angie Desmarais: Well deserve…enjoy your break!
13:02:02 From Mark Guslits: These have been great !! Thanks Mary. Thanks CUI !!
13:02:02 From Allison Ashcroft: @ lisa dont wait for murbs to list, we need to go after these buildings for acquisition and come with some tax breaks in hand to do so i/m/o
13:02:03 From Beverly Allard to All panelists: Yes, its been a wonderful week- thank you!
13:02:17 From Mayor Lisa Helps: @Alison, good idea!
13:02:21 From Ashley Michell: AMAZING week Mesi Chyo (Thank you)
13:02:22 From Irena Kohn: Thank you, all!
13:02:26 From Abby S: Thank you to all the Mayors who braved your panel!
13:02:27 From Guillermo (Gil) Penalosa: Thanks to you, Mary and CUI. Great series… looking forward to September’s sessions.
13:02:38 From Sam Franey: Thank you
13:02:39 From Lisa Moffatt: Yes @Alison, proactive!
13:02:56 From Maureen McGuire: Looking forward to Sept.
13:02:57 From Olusola Olufemi: Thank you!
