Category: Resources: Housing

Title:Homeless and jailed: jailed and homeless.
Corporate Author: John Howard Society of Toronto
Subject:Housing – affordable, social housing|split|Housing – temporary, emergency, homelessness
Publisher:John Howard Society of Toronto
Place of Publication:Toronto
Date of Publication:2010
Abstract:

Homelessness has become an entrenched problem in urban areas over the past several decades. Since the mid-1990s, senior governments have chosen to address homelessness among its citizens with ad hoc project funding rather than a comprehensive program to develop social housing as in the past. The presumed efficiencies in such an approach require adequate, reliable information to best target limited resources and to account for expenditures. Such information is frequently lacking. The report addresses a particular knowledge gap; it explores the housing situation of men who are jailed in the Toronto area; their housing options and service needs on discharge, with a focus on homeless prisoners; and maps their residential locations to compare the level of services in the neighbourhoods or areas where they live. The intention is to point to where resources can be directed to minimize chronic or repeat homelessness within this population.

Language:English
 Material Type:Report

D. HOUSING/2010 homeless-and-jailed.pdf

 

Title:Edmonton’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness: background questions and answers.
Corporate Author: Edmonton Homeless Commission
Subject:Housing – temporary, emergency, homelessness
Publisher:Edmonton Homeless Commission
Place of Publication:Edmonton
Date of Publication:2010
Abstract:

A background information sheet to accompany the Year 1 Update on Edmonton’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness

Language:English
 

D. HOUSING/2010 homelessness_questions_answers.pdf

Title:Drivers of apartment living in Canada for the twenty-first century
Corporate Author: GWL Realty Advisors
Subject:Housing – rental
Publisher:GWL Realty Advisors
Place of Publication:Vancouver
Date of Publication:2010
Abstract:

Economic, demographic and social shifts are increasing the popularity of multi-family living in Canada. Specifically, the growth of the knowledge economy, which tends to be based in dense urban areas, combined with an increased interest in consuming experiences (rather than focusing on acquiring consumer goods) has contributed to a growth in demand to live in amenity-rich neighbourhoods within a short commute of employment—and in apartment or condo buildings. The following are some of the reasons this shift will continue and even accelerate in the coming decades. Apartment and condominium dwelling is now often a desired choice of many urban residents when multifamily living offers a commute and amenity advantage. Increased educational attainment of women (who earn almost 60% of all Bachelors’ and Masters’ degrees in the US and Canada) combined with increased female workforce participation has also contributed to rise of both the knowledge economy and of apartment and condominium living. Increasingly, families are choosing multi-residential living. With most families having no more than one or two children, a two bedroom apartment home can work well. Moreover, if both parents work, living in a low maintenance home with a short commute allows for more family time. Buying a home (including a condo) in close proximity to employment and amenities is becoming increasingly expensive in comparison to renting. As a result expect more 25–45 year olds to be renters in the coming decades.

Language:English/French
 
Material Type:Report

D. HOUSING/2010 apartment_living.pdf

 

Title:Building from the ground up: enhancing affordable housing in Canada.
Corporate Author: The Conference Board of Canada
Subject:Housing – affordable, social housing|split|Housing – planning, policy
Publisher:Conference Board of Canada
Place of Publication:Ottawa
Date of Publication:2010
Abstract:

There is an appreciable shortage of good-quality, affordable housing in Canada. Consequently, approximately 25 per cent of Canadians rely on housing subsidies or experience periods where they spend over 30 per cent of their before-tax household income on housing. This negatively affects Canadians’ health, which reduces their productivity, limits our national competitiveness, and indirectly increases the cost of our health-care and welfare systems. Solutions to date have failed to adequately address Canada’s affordable housing need. To develop better solutions, Canada needs to break the affordable housing challenge into its parts—design/build, operation, and financing—and consider which public, private, or non-profit actor can best handle each component. We must also engage in more precise targeting and establish more achievable objectives. This report highlights 11 model initiatives designed to address the affordability challenge. The authors also provide practical tools for planners, private sector developers, and non-profit organizations.

Language:English
Material Type:Report

D. HOUSING/2010 BuildingFromTheGroundUp.pdf

Title: Calm Before the Storm: The Great Recession’s Impact on Homelessness
Author(s): Falvo, Nick
Citation: Paper presentation, 44th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association
Subject: Social issues – economy|split|Housing – temporary, emergency, homelessness
Publisher: Carleton University, School of Public Policy and Administration
Place of Publication: Ottawa
Date of Publication: 2010
Abstract: Recessions are much more than a numerical change in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or another term for high unemployment. The full impact of a recession takes many years to completely unfold and a recession’s impact on households and communities is neither straightforward nor immediate. The homeless population of a given jurisdiction is one of the last groups to see a change after the onset of a recession, making homelessness the opposite of the proverbial canary in the mine shaft. To be sure, if a drop in GDP is one of the first changes brought about by a recession, an increase in the number of homeless persons is one of the last. Indeed, individuals resort to sleeping in a homeless shelter as an absolute last resort. There is therefore a lag effect during a recession a delay of several years between the onset of the recession and the increase in the homeless population.
Language: English
Material Type: Report

D. HOUSING/2010 Falvo-CEA-26may2010.pdf

Title: Hidden In Plain Sight: Housing Challenges of Newcomers in Calgary
Corporate Author: Calgary Homeless Foundation, University of Calgary, United Way of Calgary and Area, City of Calgary
Subject: Housing – studies, surveys|split|Immigration – resettlement
Publisher: United Way of Calgary and Area
Place of Publication: Calgary
Date of Publication: 2009
Abstract: The United Way of Calgary and Area’s Poverty Reduction Coalition, the CHF, the City of Calgary and the University of Calgary collaborated on this research into the housing challenges of newcomers to Calgary.
Language: English
Material Type: Report

D. HOUSING/2009 hidden_in_plain_sight.pdf