cityplanner.ca
Discussing big picture urban/city planning and design issues.
May 28, 2010
Kudos to David Hulchanski and Emily Paradis from the University of Toronto Cities Centre, and others who are contributing to a Charter challenge on the right to housing, arguing that homelessness violates human rights under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms...
The Cities Centre’s e-newsletter indicates that the Charter challenge was launched May 26 at the Ontario Superior Court; and that a coalition of agencies are involved. They are attempting to direct the governments of Ontario and Canada to end homelessness in Canada via a combination of programs, policies, and a national housing strategy.
The Canadian Institute of Planners should be involved in and leading more of just these sorts of actions. Planners have a right and an obligation to work for the common good, and we are often in a position to impact, hopefully positively, people’s lives.
Every individual or family that is homeless has a different story. Many have addictions and/or mental illnesses. A great many have been unable to overcome a particular challenge in their life.
In many ways, it is getting easier and easier to become homeless. The numbers are increasing. So many North Americans are living paycheque to paycheque, and all it takes is an injury or a job loss to cause three missed mortgage payments or a certain missed number of rent payments to be out on the street. At the same time, inflationary policies continue to drive all sorts of costs upwards, and the mighty dollar can only be stretched so thin.
At the same time, it is getting harder and harder to access subsidized housing. A Toronto Star article about this Charter challenge (referenced in the Cities Centre e-newsletter) indicates that “almost 120,000 Ontario households are waiting for subsidized housing – an increase of almost 10 per cent since 2009”. This means we’re going the wrong way.
We should be doing everything in our power to reduce costs for the general public, reduce taxes, grow food closer to home, eliminate the expense of vehicles, and foster healthier environments.
The AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct cites a principle to which we aspire, within our overall responsibility to the public, as follows:
“We shall seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons, recognizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration. We shall urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that oppose such needs.”
So again, I commend the efforts of David, Emily, and all others involved in this Charter challenge. I also imagine the positive effect of our full complement of planners and civic improvement specialists worldwide doing likewise, in legal challenges on affordable housing and other necessary and worthy causes.
On a slightly unrelated note, today’s Toronto Star online also features an article on the new green roof at Toronto’s City Hall, in case you want to recommend your city do likewise.
The Cities Centre’s e-newsletter indicates that the Charter challenge was launched May 26 at the Ontario Superior Court; and that a coalition of agencies are involved. They are attempting to direct the governments of Ontario and Canada to end homelessness in Canada via a combination of programs, policies, and a national housing strategy.
The Canadian Institute of Planners should be involved in and leading more of just these sorts of actions. Planners have a right and an obligation to work for the common good, and we are often in a position to impact, hopefully positively, people’s lives.
Every individual or family that is homeless has a different story. Many have addictions and/or mental illnesses. A great many have been unable to overcome a particular challenge in their life.
In many ways, it is getting easier and easier to become homeless. The numbers are increasing. So many North Americans are living paycheque to paycheque, and all it takes is an injury or a job loss to cause three missed mortgage payments or a certain missed number of rent payments to be out on the street. At the same time, inflationary policies continue to drive all sorts of costs upwards, and the mighty dollar can only be stretched so thin.
At the same time, it is getting harder and harder to access subsidized housing. A Toronto Star article about this Charter challenge (referenced in the Cities Centre e-newsletter) indicates that “almost 120,000 Ontario households are waiting for subsidized housing – an increase of almost 10 per cent since 2009”. This means we’re going the wrong way.
We should be doing everything in our power to reduce costs for the general public, reduce taxes, grow food closer to home, eliminate the expense of vehicles, and foster healthier environments.
The AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct cites a principle to which we aspire, within our overall responsibility to the public, as follows:
“We shall seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons, recognizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration. We shall urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that oppose such needs.”
So again, I commend the efforts of David, Emily, and all others involved in this Charter challenge. I also imagine the positive effect of our full complement of planners and civic improvement specialists worldwide doing likewise, in legal challenges on affordable housing and other necessary and worthy causes.
On a slightly unrelated note, today’s Toronto Star online also features an article on the new green roof at Toronto’s City Hall, in case you want to recommend your city do likewise.
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Contact Myron Belej, MCIP, AICP at myron@cityplanner.ca to:
- invite Myron to speak at a conference or event
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Learn more about 'How to Hire Myron'.
Contact Myron Belej, MCIP, AICP at myron@cityplanner.ca to:
- invite Myron to speak at a conference or event
- feature a version of this article in another publication
- inquire about Myron's consulting or coaching services
- request more information
Learn more about 'How to Hire Myron'.