I’m really confused. In the past few weeks, the paper has had articles on a new City (?) task force to eliminate poverty, Sister Christine (who I think is our expert on the issue) says that affordable housing is the main issue, and today the City is refusing to fund Paisley Place? Is it my imagination, or is City Hall really saying one thing and doing the opposite? You don’t have to answer, but if I’m thinking this, then lots of others must be too. BM
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Just to clarify, the City has not refused to fund Paisley Place. The “article” in the Mercury was very misleading and referred to a report that had not yet been before the committee for a decision.
The committee met yesterday afternoon and in the end, agreed that we must get all stakeholders together to solve this issue, including the Province, the County (as the service provider), the Guelph Non-Profit Housing board and the City of Guelph. At no point during the meeting did members of the committee express a refusal to support the provision of affordable housing.
Affordable housing is, and continues to be, a priority for this Council and is articulated in our Growth Management Plan and Official Plan update. We have supported, through municipal incentives, several affordable housing initiatives over the last few years, including the Mountford development in the east end of Guelph and the St. Joseph’s senior life lease development. In addition, in October 2009, we endorsed a new Affordable Housing Discussion paper and a strategy to move forward. It is a comprehensive document and can be found at http://guelph.ca/living.cfm?itemid=68309&smocid=1848/
I share your concern about the need for the most vulnerable sector of our population to have adequate housing. Guelph was ranked the Most Caring community in Canada, and I am confident we will continue to uphold that reputation. Councillor Piper
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Leanne has done an excellent job of summarizing the direction and intent coming from the committee meeting. We had a good showing at the Committee meeting including Councillors Bell, Farrelly, Wettstein, Findlay, Piper, Hofland and me (I hope I did not miss anyone).
This is the draft resolution that was supported unanimously by the committee members (Findlay, Hofland, Piper and me. It will be considered by Council on Monday:
THAT the report dated March 15, 2010 with respect to Guelph Non Profit Housing Corporation Paisley Road Project, be received for information;
AND WHEREAS Guelph Non-Profit Housing Corporation (GNPHC) is an independent municipal non-profit housing corporation providing much needed social and affordable housing units in Guelph;
AND WHEREAS the Social Housing Reform Act 2000 transferred responsibility and accountability for all social housing to Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSM);
AND WHEREAS the CMSM for Guelph and Wellington is the County of Wellington;
AND WHEREAS the CMSM for Guelph and Wellington entered into a Facility Agreement with GNPHC for the development and operation of the Paisley Road Project;
AND WHEREAS the Province of Ontario entered into a Provincial Contribution Agreement with GNPHC for the development and operation of the GNPHC Paisley Road Project;
AND WHEREAS the City of Guelph provided financial incentives towards the capital costs of this project with the understanding that the business plan for the project was sustainable.
AND WHEREAS the City of Guelph does not want to see the loss of these affordable housing units in the City;
THEREFORE be it resolved that the Guelph City Council assist the CMSM in addressing the financial concerns of GNPHC by requesting the Mayor write to MPP Liz Sandals asking for her assistance in arranging a meeting with the Province of Ontario in respect of the GNPHC Paisley Road Project.
The only information that I would add is that the City allocated $12.5M each year towards affordable and social housing. Mayor Farbridge