Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, ACORN, has sent me a series of question which I must thInk upon. ACoRN is an independent national organization of low and moderate income families with 130,000+ members in 20+ neighbourhood chapters across 9 cities.
ACORN:
Democratic Rights
Democratic Rights
That the City ensure section 6.1 is enforced (Province of Ontario, Municipal Elections Act) where polls are advised to be present “in buildings containing 100 or more dwelling units”. We would like to see the City of Ottawa pass a policy reflecting access to voting.
PJK Comment:
The ward has about 38,000 people (29,000 voters) At 11,000, voter turnout at municipal votes is about 38%. My guess is that even less, 25% (7,500) will turn out for this by-election.Would more voting stations remedy this? What if there were three such buildings next to each other? Recently Tobi had a community consultation...he had a packed house, and free pizza.
ACORN:
We want to reduce barriers to voting and ensure equal citizen access to polling stations. We want a policy in place where voter population density informs where polling stations go and ensure polling stations open from 10am-8pm.
We want to reduce barriers to voting and ensure equal citizen access to polling stations. We want a policy in place where voter population density informs where polling stations go and ensure polling stations open from 10am-8pm.
PJK Comment: Agreed
ACORN:
The city should bring back door to door to find eligible voters.
The city should bring back door to door to find eligible voters.
PJK Comment: Agreed
ACORN:
Housing
Inclusionary zoning by-laws are a way for municipalities to use their development regulation and approval process to have private developers provide some affordable in all (or nearly all) market projects. Inclusionary zoning increases the amount of affordable housing stock and Ottawa needs help more than ever with a growing wait-list of over 10,000 families for affordable housing.
Housing
Inclusionary zoning by-laws are a way for municipalities to use their development regulation and approval process to have private developers provide some affordable in all (or nearly all) market projects. Inclusionary zoning increases the amount of affordable housing stock and Ottawa needs help more than ever with a growing wait-list of over 10,000 families for affordable housing.
We need the City to enact Rental Replacement by-laws so in the case of redevelopment, such as in Herongate, affordable market rental units are not lost and replaced with higher market rental units. This would allow families to remain in their communities and prevent increasing waitlists for affordable housing.
PJK Comment:
Overbrook is an example of an area where there is privately owned low cost housing. If the city wants low cost housing it has to facilitate it like it might facilitate a hockey arena or an art gallery.
Overbrook is an example of an area where there is privately owned low cost housing. If the city wants low cost housing it has to facilitate it like it might facilitate a hockey arena or an art gallery.
Ottawa will be committing 15 MILLION DOLLARS of its own resources to create new affordable housing! This is a massive victory for ACORN members who have been working tirelessly for over a decade for more affordable housing in our city.
A $15 million investment in affordable housing will more than DOUBLE the affordable housing units currently being built by the City each year.
Changes to the budget can still be made before it is voted on at the City Council meeting on March 6th. So keep up the pressure by emailing the Mayor and your City Councillors today asking them to support the $15 million currently in the budget for affordable housing!
Further from Heineck,
1. Create and maintain one by-name list of all the people who experience homelessness in the city, including when they enter the system, what services and supports they require and when they leave.
2. Next, a co-ordinated access system is required. This is a standardized process for access, assessment and referral to housing and support services across all homelessness-related organizations in the city. A standardized way of assessing people’s needs to properly match them with the right housing, addiction and mental-health services is also needed
3. The final step is prevention and diversion. Mhe information gathered by the by-name list will allow for better planning and intervention before individuals become chronically homeless.
A $15 million investment in affordable housing will more than DOUBLE the affordable housing units currently being built by the City each year.
Changes to the budget can still be made before it is voted on at the City Council meeting on March 6th. So keep up the pressure by emailing the Mayor and your City Councillors today asking them to support the $15 million currently in the budget for affordable housing!
Further from Heineck,
1. Create and maintain one by-name list of all the people who experience homelessness in the city, including when they enter the system, what services and supports they require and when they leave.
2. Next, a co-ordinated access system is required. This is a standardized process for access, assessment and referral to housing and support services across all homelessness-related organizations in the city. A standardized way of assessing people’s needs to properly match them with the right housing, addiction and mental-health services is also needed
3. The final step is prevention and diversion. Mhe information gathered by the by-name list will allow for better planning and intervention before individuals become chronically homeless.
ACORN:
The single biggest problem related to housing identified by low-income families who rent in Ottawa is the problem with the state of dis-repair in apartment buildings. The problems are severe and include; massive pest infestations; elevators not working for long periods of time; problems with proper heating; safety issues related to doors not locked properly; and basic repairs in apartments that tenants are entitled to but not receiving.
In short, enforcement mechanisms at the municipal level need to be improved. There should be more severe consequences for negligent landlords and set timelines in which landlords need to do critical repairs as seen in the City of Toronto. We need Landlord Licensing, similar to Toronto, which would include a landlord registry, yearly inspections, increased enforcement and better standards of repair.
PJK Comment:
We license dogs. Landlords are not licensed. Which does more damage, a bad dog owner or a bad landlord?
There are a number of approaches including setting minimum standards for rental units. Another is to provide star ratings on rental units. Licensing is just one but not the only approach to ensure good landlord practices.
We license dogs. Landlords are not licensed. Which does more damage, a bad dog owner or a bad landlord?
There are a number of approaches including setting minimum standards for rental units. Another is to provide star ratings on rental units. Licensing is just one but not the only approach to ensure good landlord practices.
ACORN:
Childcare
With Ontario’s childcare fees being the highest out of any province in the country and unaffordable & inaccessible childcare being the number one reason women list for not entering the workforce, we need childcare that is affordable, accessible and fair.
Childcare
With Ontario’s childcare fees being the highest out of any province in the country and unaffordable & inaccessible childcare being the number one reason women list for not entering the workforce, we need childcare that is affordable, accessible and fair.
We need funding for affordable public/non-profit daycare spaces to be prioritized in lower income neighborhoods and communities
Support asking the province to introduce geared to income childcare fees capped at $10/day.
Parents need easier access to information in order to understand Ontario’s patchwork childcare system. We need transparency and accountability to parents through a simplified online process and face to face assistance when applying for subsidies. Expanded programming for parents who work non-standard hours (ie. shift work, overnights).
PJKComment:
Childcare should be available and affordable. Our children are our future. Their care is a direct reflection of our society’s morals, values and beliefs. However, the more that society intervenes in the care of children the more it can also dictate in other areas of child up bringing. You may not like what you get.
ACORN
Transit
Many low-income earners need public transit in order to survive. We believe transit should be free for those living on social assistance and geared to income for low-income earners, which should be no more than $43 a month.
Many low-income earners need public transit in order to survive. We believe transit should be free for those living on social assistance and geared to income for low-income earners, which should be no more than $43 a month.
There should be no minimum payment to upload Presto passes for people under the low income measure.
PJKComment: Agreed
ACORN:
The City of Ottawa needs to ensure people with disabilities have increased access to transit.
The City of Ottawa needs to ensure people with disabilities have increased access to transit.
Para-Transpo should implement an online booking system to help those with hearing impairments and to eliminate long wait-times with over the phone bookings.
PJK Comment: Agreed
PJK Comment: Agreed
ACORN:
Affordable Utilities
The City should ensure hydro rates are affordable for low-income earners- including those under Hydro One who often pay higher rates. Further, the City should reward low to moderate-income families who practice energy saving tactics.
Affordable Utilities
The City should ensure hydro rates are affordable for low-income earners- including those under Hydro One who often pay higher rates. Further, the City should reward low to moderate-income families who practice energy saving tactics.
PJK Comment: Agreed
ACORN
Infrastructure
When the City engages in large infrastructure projects, they should also engage in Community Benefits Agreements. The new light rail system is a perfect opportunity to build community benefits agreements where developers are mandated to support social services in our communities.
Infrastructure
When the City engages in large infrastructure projects, they should also engage in Community Benefits Agreements. The new light rail system is a perfect opportunity to build community benefits agreements where developers are mandated to support social services in our communities.
Community Benefits Agreements should include:
– Living Wages for all workers during and after construction
– Local Hiring from low-to-moderate income community, including job training.
– Local decision making powers for community to decide what types of businesses, and community infrastructure (childcare, community centres) are put in post development
– Deep Affordable Housing provided to local residents
– Living Wages for all workers during and after construction
– Local Hiring from low-to-moderate income community, including job training.
– Local decision making powers for community to decide what types of businesses, and community infrastructure (childcare, community centres) are put in post development
– Deep Affordable Housing provided to local residents
PJK Comment: Agreed.
ACORN
Invest in green infrastructure and maintain green space in low and moderate income neighbourhoods.
PJKComment: Agreed
ACORN
Zoning
Vanier, one of Ottawa’s working class neighbourhoods, holds the highest density per capita of predatory lenders in the country. However, the onslaught of predatory lenders has become a city-wide issue.
Vanier, one of Ottawa’s working class neighbourhoods, holds the highest density per capita of predatory lenders in the country. However, the onslaught of predatory lenders has become a city-wide issue.
The City needs to license and limit the distances between payday lenders (and other fringe financial institutions) to stop the proliferation of predatory lenders in the city.
PJK Comment: I think there should be regulation. I doubt proximity is the issue.
ACORN
Employment
The City of Ottawa should create an ethical purchasing strategy that protects workers’ wages and benefits and avoids contract flipping.
The City of Ottawa should create an ethical purchasing strategy that protects workers’ wages and benefits and avoids contract flipping.
All employees working on city grounds should be paid a living wage.
PJK Comment: Agreed
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