By Catherine Hacksel
Despite the dreary weather and intimidating subject matter, the first Lowertown Community Association (LCA) meeting of 2019 was abuzz with energy! At least 40 residents filled the meeting room while maintaining a respectful dialogue over a challenging subject in our neighborhood – homelessness. As organizer I had two goals for the panel discussion: to unpack the complexity of this issue with residents, and to highlight the local impacts of our political priorities. Panelists came from academia, the non-profit sector, and frontline and former city staff.
While their professional backgrounds varied, some views were very consistent: housing first with community supports is far more humane and cost-effective then our current emergency-oriented approach. Panelists agreed with one who lamented “My biggest pet peeve right now is the word innovation; can we please fund what works first?” To learn more I encourage readers to do an online search of the At Home/Chez Soi Project, the largest randomized trial of formalized Housing First in Canada. This study and other research are also available online at www.homelesshub.com
Lowertown is a unique neighborhood in that we are undeniably witnessing the affordable-housing crisis on our streets. For those presently on Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, an affordable rental price (30% of income) would range from $211 to 345 per month. As 10,000households are on the waiting list of the Ottawa Social Housing Registry the private market is also filling the gap through rooming houses, domiciliary hostels and bunkhouses. These spaces may be covert, and even those that are licensed through the City vary in oversight and safety standards. If government can’t (or won’t?) control the housing market, how can we reduce harm to ensure all residents’ human rights?
Despite the stigma homeless folks face in Ottawa and across Canada, I was pleased with the community conversation at January’s panel. It is clear that this issue will not be addressed until we as voters inform ourselves and hold our elected officials to account. While it may be tempting to displace emergency shelters and scorn affordable housing for the sake of optics, we owe it to ourselves and to the most vulnerable among us to respond with best practices. As our nations’ capital, let’s lead by example to ensure dignity and quality of life for all.