Latest news with #affordableHousing
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Alberta gov't decries 'baseless, politically motivated' affordable housing report
The Alberta government says it's rejecting the findings of a "baseless, politically motivated" report that gave the province a failing grade on addressing affordable housing. The Report Card on More and Better Housing, released Thursday, gave Alberta a D+ — the worst overall grade for any province in Canada. Though author Mike Moffatt of the University of Ottawa's Missing Middle Initiative praised Edmonton and Calgary for implementing "fantastic reforms," he said the provincial government needs to build more social housing, cut red tape, reform building codes and address climate risks. The province says the report is flawed and the rest of Canada should follow Alberta's lead in implementing policies that deliver "real results." "This is not a report on affordable housing — as it claims to be — but is instead a report by a climate activist group that ignores reality in an effort to push their green agenda," said Amber Edgerton, press secretary for the Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services, in an emailed statement. She said the report fails to recognize the importance of affordability, record housing starts in Alberta, and the province's recent building code changes and flood mitigation efforts. Who's behind the report? The Task Force for Housing and Climate, a group of 15 housing policy experts that formed in 2023 to make recommendations for governments, commissioned the report. Former Edmonton mayor Don Iveson and Lisa Raitt, former deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, co-chair the group. The Clean Economy Fund, an Ontario-based charitable foundation that supports climate philanthropy in Canada, funded the report. Who else is criticizing it? The report misses the mark because it's too focused on policies, not results, said Kalen Anderson, CEO of BILD Edmonton Metro, a building and land development industry group. "Alberta is the engine for Canadian housing bar none, and both Edmonton and Calgary are top jurisdictions for efficiency in terms of planning, development timelines, even development charges," she told CBC News. Anderson said there's always more work to do, but Alberta is producing the most housing per capita and maintaining the most affordable rents, amid record population growth. Most conversations Anderson been a part of over the past couple of years, at national, provincial and local levels, were "about trying to describe what Edmonton and Calgary's secret sauce is, and why Alberta is such an outlier in terms of its leadership of housing creation," she said. Who's defending it? Some say the report should be a wake-up call for the provincial government. Naomie Bakana, president of the students' union at the University of Calgary, said too many students are having to choose between safe and affordable housing. The union has heard stories about asbestos in apartments and as many as seven students living together in one room, she said. "What the province needs to do is take these recommendations into consideration," Bakana said. Students can't throw away grades they disagree with, so neither should the government, she said. Janis Irwin, housing critic for the Opposition NDP, said Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon often talks about Alberta leading the country in building more housing, but he's referring to market-rate housing. The government needs to invest in and increase the supply of non-market-rate housing, including permanent supportive housing, Irwin said. She added that that form of housing save lives and, in the long-term, money. Irwin called on all levels of government to work together on the housing issue to maximize progress. Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi echoed the call in a statement, saying all governments "need to step up and do their part to tackle housing affordability." Nadine Chalifoux, chair of the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, said the province could be learning from what other jurisdictions are doing to address the housing crisis, from reforming building codes to building more social housing. "I would hope that they would take that seriously, but it doesn't sound like they are," Chalifoux said.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
New law closes massive tax loophole CBS News Texas discovered that allowed developers to avoid paying millions
A new law has taken immediate effect this week with Gov. Greg Abbott's signature, abolishing a loophole in the law that the CBS News Texas I-Team first brought to light over a year ago. "I'm happy. I'm ecstatic," said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross of the new law. For months, he's been pleading with Texas lawmakers to put a stop to what's known as "travelling HFCs", a practice that's allowed real estate developers to avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes. "I was pissed. I still am," he told CBS News Texas in March. Housing Finance Corporations, or HFCs, are non-profits set up by cities or counties. They're intended to help them create affordable housing in their own communities. The I-Team found evidence, though, that that's not always what has happened. CBS News Texas discovered four small Texas cities (Pecos, Pleasanton, Edcouch, and La Villa) and two small counties (Maverick County and Cameron County) – none of them within three hundred miles of the metroplex - have used their HFCS to give North Texas developers huge tax breaks in exchange for money. In many cases, we learned, they've done it without even notifying the local community, affected by the significant loss of tax revenue. North Texas city leaders have told us it's forced them to consider raising taxes or cutting back on services. "We have to find ways to make up the millions and millions of dollars – and if you look statewide, it's billions of dollars - that come off the tax roll," said Ross. The Texas House and Senate this month each passed House Bill 21 with a two-thirds majority, allowing it to take immediate effect. It makes it illegal for HFCs to approve any further deals outside the boundaries of the city or county that created them without explicit permission from the affected taxing entities. The bill's author, State Rep. Gary Gates, said it also puts new requirements on the hundreds of out-of-town HFC deals that have already been made. "It gives them until January 1 of 2027, so that's about 18 months, to go to the city or county where the property is located and get an agreement to continue," said Gates. And, if they don't get approval? "Well, then they'll have to start paying property taxes," said Gates. The reform bill will put stricter rules in place for traditional HFCs, too – the kind working within the cities and counties that established them. That's prompted opposition from groups like the Texas Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies, which says no one took issue with HFCs before bad actors began making out-of-town deals two years ago. "It went far beyond just solving the travelling HFC issue," said TALHFA's Todd Kerchevel of the reform bill. Any developer getting a tax break through an HFC will now have to prove at least half of the savings they get for a multi-family housing project is used to lower the price of rent there. The exact dollar figure will change year to year, which critics say could make things tricky. "They're trying to hit a moving target, by doing that it puts their tax exemption in jeopardy and by putting your tax exemption in jeopardy, you put your financing in jeopardy," said Kercheval. But, in Arlington, a city with its own HFC, Ross doesn't see a problem. "Is there any concern that this could stop sort of legitimate affordable housing efforts?" CBS News Texas asked him. "None. Not from our perspective. We're very confident in our HFC and what they're doing. Other cities around the state are just as confident with theirs," he said.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
1500 new homes announced for Sydney Fish Markets days after Rosehill redevelopment shot down
The NSW government has been given the green light for 1500 new apartments in a massive redevelopment of Sydney's old fish markets, days after a 'once-in-a-generation' mini city was voted down. The Australian Turf Club voted on Tuesday not to accept a proposed $5bn buyout of the Rosehill racecourse in Sydney's west that would have made way for 25,000 new homes and a Metro station. The controversial project was marred by delays, inquiries, and opposition from some of racing's elite, and the decision dealt a blow to Premier Chris Minns' push to erect more homes close to the Sydney CBD. On Friday, the government revealed the Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure had approved Infrastructure NSW's plans to amend planning controls at the Blackwattle Bay site. Located at the old Sydney Fish Markets, the site was already slated for 1200 homes as part of a mixed-use precinct, but the office area has now been reduced to cater for more homes. Spanning some 30m of waterfront promenade, the project will rejuvenate the harbour and is being pitched as the 'missing link' in the 15km foreshore walk from Rozelle Bay to Woolloomooloo. It is expected to generate 4300 jobs at the government and private-owned sites within the precinct, which spans 3.4na near the city, with, open, recreational and cultural spaces. With the state government requiring 7.5 per cent of the homes at Blackwattle Bay to be kept for affordable housing, the project is not a replacement for the failed Rosehill project shot down this week. About 56 per cent of members present voted 'No' to the deal. On Tuesday, Mr Minns said he accepted the ATC members' decision but described the result as a 'golden opportunity that slipped through our fingers' and hinted at a possible 'Plan B'. 'We've got proposals that we're getting ready to roll out for more housing closer to Sydney CBD,' he said. 'They're not ready for me to announce today, and not everyone will love them, but they're absolutely necessary for Sydney.' Mr Minns has ruled out forced acquisition of the Rosehill site. The Blackwattle project, meanwhile, is expected to receive proposals in July from the short-listed developers Lendlease, Mirvac and Stockland, with the first homes expected by 2028.
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
From the forest to City Hall: Hamilton encampment residents protest lack of housing options
Izzy Emmanuel says he doesn't want to be invisible anymore. That's why he decided to relocate his tent from deep in the escarpment forest to right outside City Hall on Monday in protest of Hamilton's encampment ban and lack of affordable housing. "Everyone who is homeless, their voice is non-existent," Emmanuel told CBC Hamilton. "What makes me irritated is if you take away our tents, you're forcing people to sleep outside." The 29-year-old works as a line cook, earns minimum wage and hasn't been able to afford to rent a place for years. He spent his teenage years in foster care and got set up in an apartment for a while but was evicted after his rent went up and he couldn't pay for two months, he said. He couch surfed with family and friends for a while before moving to the rail trail. "I don't know what else to do," he said of his situation. He was joined by two other people, including Jeanguy Parent, 58, who also face impending eviction from their tents along the rail trail, as well as volunteers from the Hamilton Encampment Support Network. After one night at City Hall, the group was served with trespass notices by two city bylaw officers accompanied by four police officers Tuesday afternoon. They were told they had a right to protest but had to take their tents down and should go to a shelter. A bylaw officer called different shelters for them and informed Emmanuel and Parent two beds were available at a men's shelter, which they declined. They instead went back to the rail trail. Parent said he doesn't stay in shelters because they are more often than not full, unsafe or triggering as other people use substances. He's on the wait list for transitional housing and has lived near the rail trail for almost a year. The city began clearing encampments near him earlier this month. Parent and Emmanuel said while they haven't been among those formally evicted, they've been told by officials it's only a matter of time. "We know something big is coming there," Parent said. Shelters are full, provider says Over the winter, the city opened an 80-person outdoor shelter and added 192 more indoor shelter beds, bringing the total to 930. Then in March it began enforcing its bylaw that bans tents in parks with the expectation that encampment residents would move into shelters instead. "Although capacity pressures exist, admissions do occur on a daily basis as a result of shelter users moving out to housing or other options," said the city in a statement earlier this month. But those spaces can be hard to come by. The city said as of April shelters capacity was at: 96 per cent for men, 98 per cent for women, 88 per cent for families, 86 per cent for "adult mixed," 65 per cent for youth, 55 per cent for emergency hotels. Encampment residents have told CBC Hamilton they routinely call shelters in search of beds but have yet to find an opening. Staff at one shelter provider, the YWCA Hamilton, echoed that experience. "They're full," said Chelsea Kirkby, vice president of strategic initiatives and program development. "There is turnover, naturally, and they're filled immediately. It's not frequent enough turnover to meet the need." She oversaw the opening of a 20-bed shelter for women and gender diverse people in December, funded by the city. It filled immediately, she said. "We thought it would help relieve the pressure, but it has not," Kirkby said. The YWCA's other drop-in shelter, which generally operates on a first-come-first-served basis, is also full every night, she said. Emmanuel said sleeping in a tent leaves him tired and achy, with barely enough energy to work in a kitchen, where he earns about $1,100 a month, never mind calling shelters everyday looking for a spot.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
High school students help build affordable homes in Fergus with Habitat for Humanity
Students from John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph, Ont. helped build Habitat for Humanity homes in Fergus, Ont. on May 28, 2025. High school students from Guelph are learning what it takes to build affordable homes by teaming with Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington. On Wednesday, Grade 11 students from a construction class at John F. Ross Highschool were at an active build site, where crews are doing work on what will soon be a 32-unit townhome community. 'I really like hands on work, and I think it's what we're doing. It's a good cause,' said student Rowan Lamarre. 'It's really fun that you get to miss a whole day of school for this.' It's not all fun and games. Students will learn framing, plumbing, dry walling and painting. 'In Canada we are short of tradespeople and I'm trying to encourage a lot of students in my care and in classes to move into the trades,' said their teacher, Gethin Walters. Walters is hoping the program helps inspire young minds. 'Get them exposed to new tools, machines, skills, etcetera, early on in life is definitely a life skill for them for the future,' he said. Even if they don't take up trades as a career, there are lessons that will resonate long after leaving the worksite. 'Having the basic skills on how to operate machines and learn how a house works, then you are saving yourself thousands of dollars in the future. If you know these particular skills,' Walters said. Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington students A Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington project on Hill Street in Fergus, Ont. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that works with families worldwide to provide affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity's goal is to build affordable homes to create a stable future for vulnerable families. 'It's needed because we're in the midst of a housing crisis in Ontario, in Canada. And what we're trying to do is create generational wealth and security by allowing people in unstable rental situations a chance to afford their own home,' said Karyn Boscariol, director of communications and resource development for Habitat for Humanity Guelph Wellington. The program in Guelph Wellington runs all week and is thanks to a $20,000 sponsorship from the Co-Operators. 'We've implemented a program where companies can actually sponsor a school, a skilled trades class, to come on site and experience an active field site,' said Boscariol. The affordable townhomes on Hill Street are expected to be move-in-ready by the fall of 2025.
