To the editor,
Can anyone advise me as to the definition of ‘affordable housing?’ They are badly misused words.
The kind of housing that is needed is ‘rent-to-income,’ which is what CMHC used to be involved in years ago. I suggest that everyone ask CMHC to get back to providing housing that is rent-to-income.
Premier Eby indicated he was going to direct municipalities to increase the percentage of affordable housing in new developments. That is well and fine, as long as it is rent-to-income based.
The kinds of housing that are needed are not tiny homes with a bed only. What is needed is a bedroom, a kitchen so residents can cook their own meals, a bathroom to shower and wash in and a small living room to socialize in. This is called treating the homeless as you would wish to be treated. The trailer housing that Nanaimo is currently doing is also not a good way to go – what do the homeless learn being housed in this manner?
I am so tired of developers that use the system to reap very high profits off what they build. This leaves the citizens of a community paying the piper in terms of trying to deal with the homeless population.
Elected people have a responsibility to listen and then react and act. Do not keep on using the same lingo to pretend things are getting fixed when in fact, things continue to get worse. Quit using the words ‘affordable housing’ and use the words rent-to-income, then we will know the plight of our homeless is going to improve.
June Ross, Nanaimo
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