CHF Canada media release

Housing announcements welcome but more are needed in this federal election

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September 16, 2008 – The need for affordable housing is becoming an important issue in the federal election, but none of the parties have announced a comprehensive plan to respond to Canada’s affordable housing crisis, the Co‑operative Housing Federation of Canada said today.

“Today’s Conservative announcement of tax credits for new home buyers is welcome and will help some people afford a home, but it doesn’t address the problems faced by the millions of Canadians who have to choose between food and housing, and can only dream of buying their own home,” said Nicholas Gazzard, CHF Canada’s executive director.

The 4 million Canadians living in core housing need are still waiting to hear what the next government will do to help them. The fact that both the Liberals and Conservatives have both made announcement in the past week that will address housing affordability is real progress. But housing advocates are still waiting to hear about long-term plans for dealing with the affordable housing crisis.

CHF Canada has been calling for:

• Continued federal spending for housing co‑ops, to provide more homes for low-income Canadians
• More rent-geared-to-income subsidies so housing co‑ops can help more low-income Canadians who need housing
• A loan fund so that housing co‑ops can invest in energy savings and the reduction of greenhouse gases

For more information, contact:

Nicholas Gazzard, Executive Director (613) 293-8913 (cell) ngazzard @ chfcanada.coop

Merrilee Robson, Program Manager, Communications, (778) 227-3864 (cell) mrobson @ chfcanada.coop

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