Hamilton is Home: Collective initiative could make big dent on housing crisis
Published August 19, 2020 at 4:04 pm
Earlier this week, Hamilton’s Emergency and Community Services Committee unanimously endorsed a project that could create 3,000 affordable housing units in the community in the coming years.
Earlier this week, Hamilton’s Emergency and Community Services Committee unanimously endorsed a project that could create 3,000 affordable housing units in the community in the coming years.
The Hamilton is Home initiative is a collaboration between the City’s affordable housing developers and a number of community and social service organizations.
Theses groups have come together with the goal of combining their varied capabilities and deep talents to develop 3,000 affordable housing units in a few short years.
“This will have a deep impact on Hamilton’s housing crisis,” said YWCA’s Medora Uppal, who was part of the delegation in front of the committee this week.
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She said that many of the projects the collective has identified are considered in light of pandemic recovery and through an equity lens.
“COVID-19 has highlighted inequity in our communities,” Uppal said, noting that data and studies have shown marginalized groups have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
There are more than 6,000 people on a waitlist for affordable housing in Hamilton currently.
Uppal explained that more than 50 sites across Hamilton have been identified as potential locations to develop social housing.
The cost of developing these sites is conservatively estimated to be upwards of $1.2 billion, funded through the CMHC’s co-investment fund.
Essentially, the collective group would be submitting a ‘portfolio’ of funding applications for individual projects that would contribute to Hamiton’s affordable and social housing needs.
Indwell’s Graham Cubitt, who was also part of the delegation, explained that this unique, collective approach will allow for the development of specific and nuanced housing that will address the specific needs of those in need of these social supports.
“The 3,000 units isn’t just for people on ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) but working households,” he said.
Uppal added that many units would be designed with specific needs in mind, including women and families escaping violence and people living with addictions and mental illness, for example.
The Hamilton is Home initiative is separate from the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Cubitt stipulated, but that if the 3,000 affordable housing units indicated by the Games’ organizers came to fruition it would be most welcome in helping address the city’s housing crisis.
“We’re not seeing this [the collective] anywhere else,” Cubitt said. “We have a unique opportunity here.”
He said that with the collective efforts of the Hamilton is Home organizations, along with the support of City of Hamilton staff, the increased quality of the applications they send to CMHC will be second to none.
“We work together to augment capabilities,” Cubitt said. “We’re working together in new ways and not trying to get our own interests first.”
Committee members were unanimous in their support of a motion put forward by Ward 3 councillor Nrinder Nann to support the initiative.
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