Canada’s Housing Minister Discusses Plans for Affordable Housing

Ahmed Hussen Still Believes in Affordable Housing for Canadians

Canada’s housing minister Ahmed Hussen first came to Canada at 16 as a refugee fleeing Somalia during the civil war. His first home in the country was a social-housing unit in Hamilton that he shared with his cousin. By 2002 when completing an undergraduate degree at York University, he had co-founded the Regent Park Community Council to advocate for more subsidized units, services, and amenities for residents during a $500-million revitalization of the neighborhood. Elected to Parliament in 2015 and appointed minister of housing and diversity and inclusion in October 2021, Mr. Hussen has first-hand knowledge and experience with the problems caused by a lack of affordable housing. The current real estate market in Canada has residents competing for the properties available or being priced out entirely. Aaron Hutchins, a reporter for Macleans, sat down with Mr. Hussen to discuss his views on the housing crisis.

According to Hussen, supply is a significant component of the crisis. The government is developing the first new stock of co-op buildings in 30 years, and there will be 6’000 of them. They have also renewed the Rapid Housing Initiative for a 3rd time, intending to develop another 6’000 new housing units. Hussen claims that the money invested into the core investment funds will produce almost 23’000 new homes, and the Housing Accelerator Fund will produce 100’000 new homes by 2024. When asked about the government's plan to increase the number of new homes built annually from 200’000 to 400’000, Hussein explained looking at the budget as a comprehensive strategy that targets affordability issues. The budget includes investments into training more Canadians in skilled trades, creating apprenticeships, and building more homes. This year's target for the immigration system is around 401’000 new permanent residents, the majority of which are skilled immigrants that can help develop the economy amidst labor-market shortages.

Hussen also shared that the responsibility mustn’t fall on the federal government alone. Municipal governments need to accelerate their processes for affordable and middle-class housing projects. To help them achieve that, the federal government introduced the $4-billion Housing Accelerator Fund. According to Hussen, it is vital to have partnerships with governments at the municipal level that can facilitate quick approvals and directly help people currently living in the street and parks.

Finding Permanent Housing Solutions

To learn more about how Canada plans to address the ongoing housing crisis, go to Macleans.ca:

“You lived in social housing during your early years in Canada. How much do you factor in that experience when you’re proposing solutions to a housing crisis that’s rooted in affordability?

‘Everyone in public office brings their personal and professional experience to the table. One of the reasons I’m passionate about making sure we increase our investments in affordable housing is because I know how much having a roof over your head can make a difference for someone. I would not have been able to pursue a post-secondary education, finish university and build up my skills to get a decent job if it weren’t for social housing units. There’s simply no way.

I want to make sure that we live in a country where those who are struggling to find affordable housing can get help from the government. We have to prevent people who are at risk of becoming homeless from ending up on the street. And we have to make sure that we find permanent housing solutions for those who are there now. It diminishes Canadian society when the final housing option for some people is to live on the street. It’s a failure for all of us.’”

From Ahmed Hussen Has A Plan To Solve Canada’s Housing Crisis - Macleans

https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ahmed-hussen-has-a-plan-to-solve-canadas-housing-crisis/

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Written by S2A Modular & Associates Inc.

May 4th, 2022