Thursday, October 25, 2007

NDP response to UN report on homelessness in Canada

This is from the NDP website. There did not seem to be a link to the report. Notice that it was the Liberal govt. that cut out a lot of the housing programs.

NDP response to United Nations report on homelessness in Canada
“United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing Miloon Kothari delivered his preliminary report on homelessness in Canada. Kothari stated that he was “very disturbed by the housing situation in Canada” and that he hoped to see “a radical shift in government policy” after the Liberals’ decisions “summarily abandoned” Canada’s positive record on housing.

“Mr. Kothari is right to be disturbed about homelessness and housing affordability in Canada. The Conservatives have no action plan to build affordable housing. The housing situation for First Nations is appalling. People who live with addictions or mental illness lack decent, safe, secure homes. And while emergency shelter funding is necessary, it is not the answer because an emergency shelter is not a home.

“There should not be 20 people living in a house intended for four people. No one should live in a home that is toxic because of mould or asbestos contamination. It is time for the Harper Conservatives to work in partnership with Aboriginal people to develop and implement a housing program with an adequate budget to address the Aboriginal housing crisis in Canada. Housing is and should be a human right.

“Ensuring affordable housing for all Canadians will help close the prosperity gap between the rich and everyone else. And it will save tax dollars in the long run, given the extremely high social costs of homelessness.”

Bill Siksay
NDP Housing critic (Burnaby-Douglas)

Jean Crowder

No comments: