Elections
Hamilton has been experiencing a slow-motion crisis in housing affordability. Do you support an expanded role for the City to provide more affordable housing? If so, what should Hamilton do? If not, why not?
Responses to the question: "Hamilton has been experiencing a slow-motion crisis in housing affordability. Do you support an expanded role for the City to provide more affordable housing? If so, what should Hamilton do? If not, why not? "
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5 Candidate Responses (top)
| Ward 07 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Brief Response | Full Response |
| Benson, Steve | Yes | The buzz word in Hamilton is Affordable Housing, however, what I support is affordable living for everyone!
A 2016 article in the CBC states that an independent company, hired to look into the Ontario Works program, found that employees were not doing enough to help people find jobs and get back to work. This independent company actually recommended to release 40+ employees from Ontario Works. Interestingly enough, the City kept this study under wraps and we now find ourselves in the predicament we’re in. Affordable housing is not meant to be a lifestyle, it is supposed to be a temporary measure to help individuals and families get back on their feet. If the system was working properly there would be enough housing to support those who need it most. The City has created a situation whereby is it encouraging whole generations to depend on social services. What we need to do instead is get people back into the workforce, we need to change the narrative to encourage people back to work and to take advantage of some of the “back to work” programs and retraining available through the City and Province. The longer it takes to do so, the more complacent and dependent people will become and the problems will become insurmountable. |
| Kazubek, Joseph | Yes | Affordable housing is a must, and a human right, the city is obligated to ensure that all residents of Hamilton has a safe place to live.
Affordable housing is one of my main platforms focuses, and part of my poverty reduction plan. I have a few ideas that I believe would help with the reduction but also know that I'm not an expert In this, I will work with local groups and put forward a strong plan. I will be considering similar project that other city have used and has been successful at ensuring affordable housing is available, including Waterloo home owner grants, as well as small houses ( alley way homes) community spaces |
| MacIntyre, Dan | Yes | I think one of the biggest changes the next city council needs to make is changing what the idea of Affordable Housing it. It isn’t simply city sponsored housing for low income families. Affordable housing is anyone who is forced to pay more than a third of their after tax income on housing, that includes much of my generation who are educated and working in good jobs but still cannot afford to enter the housing market. Across the city we have many opportunities to begin working toward resolving our affordable housing crisis with creative efforts that have experienced success across North America. In particular, a focus on increasing our micro-housing and laneway housing stock is an evidence-based approach that has been gaining momentum in Vancouver and Toronto that could provide very quick returns and alleviate some of the demand. At a very basic level, affordable housing needs to be understood as the crisis it is rather than just another issue, and at our council table currently, it’s only seen as an issue. |
| McMullen, Geraldine | Yes | I would be supportive of an expanded role for the City to provide more affordable housing. I believe we do ourselves a disservice when we lack the full capacity to provide our residents with a place to live that they can afford based on wages earned in our city. Furthermore, if we are to be a preferred place to raise a family and age successfully, then we should have the basic means to allow for that in the form of affordable housing. Young people, single parents and seniors are most at risk in this regard. |
| Pauls, Esther | Maybe | Housing cannot be supported soley on the residential tax assessment bas our taxes on our homes would go through the roof. We need to advocate for funds from provincial and in particular federal funding. Immigration is driving the need for housing and its affordability. |
Response Summary (top)
| Brief Response | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 4 | 80.0% |
| No | 0 | 0.0% |
| Maybe | 1 | 20.0% |
6 Candidates Have Not Responded (top)
| Ward 07 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Clarke, Steve | ||
| Clowater, Kristopher | ||
| Dirani, Adam | ||
| Grice-Uggenti, Karen | ||
| McColl, Jim | ||
| Schneider, Roland | ||
