HAMILTON, ON (September 16, 2022) The City of Hamilton’s leading mayoral candidates, Andrea Horwath, Keanin Loomis, and Bob Bratina, have agreed to meet to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing many Ontario municipalities today – affordable housing.
With the city’s municipal election just around the corner, the mayoral candidates will be asked pointed questions surrounding this issue which is top of mind for many Hamiltonians. This ‘fireside chat’ organised by Hamilton is Home, a coalition of affordable housing providers, will aim to highlight and understand each candidate’s views on this important issue, and more specifically, how their administration plans to directly address the current housing crisis should they win the fall election. Guests from the public and media are welcome to attend. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.
The event will take place at the Perkins Centre (1429 Main St E, Hamilton, ON L8K 1C2) on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. The discussion will be co-moderated by Tricia Lewis, director of operations for Hamilton East Kiwanis Non-Profit Homes, and Kevin Whyte, vice chair of the board of directors with Habitat for Humanity Hamilton. Both organizations are a part of Hamilton is Home.
Members of the media are asked to please notify us of their intention to attend in advance by sending a brief email to Jeff@ebapi.ca.
Housing affordability in Hamilton
The need for affordable housing in Canada is greater now than it has ever been. Hamiltonians are being priced out of the city with record high home prices and rental costs; an issue that was exacerbated by the outbreak of COVID-19. According to a recent study conducted by Oxford Economics, Hamilton is the third least affordable city in North America in terms of housing costs, and Hamilton’s housing crisis is expected to worsen in the coming years.
Hamilton is Home
Hamilton is Home (HiH) is an alliance of community housing providers. As a collective of independent non-profits and registered charities, HiH carries out housing-related advocacy work in a non-partisan way, collaborating with all elected and government officials to help advance housing solutions. HiH aims to share knowledge and experience so that every community and public investment can achieve maximum and permanent public benefits. HiH is committed to achieving transformative housing solutions so that the Hamilton community can thrive.
HiH member organizations include, Good Shepherd Community Homes, Habitat for Humanity Hamilton, Hamilton East Kiwanis Non-Profit Homes, Indwell, Sacajawea Non-Profit Housing Inc., Victoria Park Community Homes, and YWCA Hamilton. HiH also partners with T. Johns Consulting Group Ltd., City of Hamilton, St Matthews House, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, First Ontario Credit Union, Coalition of Hamilton Indigenous Leadership, New Commons Development, and Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services.
https://indwell.ca/hamilton-is-home/
Quotes
“For too many women, children and gender diverse people access to safe, affordable and quality housing is the single most pressing issue in their lives. Our City’s future success depends on us solving this massive crisis. Hamilton’s next Mayor needs the courage, experience and demonstrated leadership to address this challenge head on.”
- Medora Uppal, Director of Operations, YWCA Hamilton
“We receive hundreds of inquiries each year from families who are in desperate need of assistance with affordable housing. We understand just how serious an issue this has become, especially in Hamilton, and we are very pleased that the leading mayoral candidates have agreed to meet to discuss what can be done about it, collectively.”
- Sean Ferris, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Hamilton
“Municipal government decisions are critically important for unlocking financial investments in affordable housing from local sources as well as provincial and federal governments. This evening will be an important forum for our mayoral candidates to share ideas on how they will support the housing developments needed to address the crisis of Hamiltonian’s experiencing housing insecurity, as well as how they’ll support the non-profits, charities and other organizations working in supportive and affordable housing. ”
- Graham Cubitt, Chair, Hamilton is Home
MEDIA CONTACT
For all media inquiries, please contact Jeff Wolfson: Jeff@ebapi.ca.