The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 1, 2008 - 7 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Election is time to push for national housing strategy The article Homeless in Halton (The Oakville Beaver, Sept. 24) is spot on -- awareness of homelessness and the need for affordable housing is critical, not only in Oakville, but throughout Halton Region. It is for that very reason that regional council took a leadership position before awareness of the housing issue started to gain attention. In fact, in 2006 regional council approved a comprehensive housing strategy allocating approximately $40 million dollars over 10 years to ensure a continuum of housing types for all incomes and stages of life, from emergency shelters and government assisted housing to private sector affordable housing. Our belief is that people in Halton should be able to remain in their own community and that is why we need housing options. We also believe strongly that the development of affordable housing must be sustained. While emergency shelters are necessary, they are not a sustainable solution. Investment in affordable housing is a much better investment and less expensive in the long run than building shelters -- but it takes time to build housing options. As the article mentioned, Regional Council approved funding recommendations in the amount of $3,019,890 for seven community projects addressing homelessness and eviction prevention. Additional funds of $19,858 were approved for Home Suite Hope Shared Living Corporation's purchase of a six unit building to provide transitional housing to lone parent families in Oakville. Significant regional dollars have been allocated to all of Halton's housing projects to date. Housing is so critical for now and the future that development charges for social housing are starting to be collected. We are working as a true partner and catalyst with local agencies and developers. In fact, Halton has been lobbying the federal government to use empty houses on Department of National Defense lands in Oakville for transitional housing. This is a prime example of Halton trying to do something within its own means, yet the housing is sitting empty while our residents are being sent out of the Region or are living in motels. We are also advocating to the provincial government for inclusionary zoning which gives municipalities a tool to encourage the market to develop affordable housing, rather than the responsibility lying solely with government. Let me be clear ­ there is no one within Halton Region that believes we can't or shouldn't be doing more. But isn't it time to ask the question about what the federal and provincial governments are doing to address homelessness and poverty. The Province is indicating it wants to get serious about poverty and is developing a Provincial Affordable Housing strategy. The federal government is in an election. Halton residents should be asking their provincial representatives and federal candidates about what they are going to do to address this critical issue. There needs to be a call to action to ensure ongoing stable funding for housing, the development of a national housing strategy, and concrete support from the federal government so that Halton can use the DND lands in the short term as transitional housing and in the long term to develop the site as a balanced healthy community with a variety of housing choices. For a community as affluent as Halton, that some of our residents do not know where they'll be sleeping tonight is a shame. JEFF KNOLL, WARD 5 REGIONAL COUNCILLOR CHAIR, STANDING COMMITTEE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES PRESIDENT, HALTON COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION DON'T PAY RETAIL! FACTORY OUTLET SALE INSTALLATION OF CROWN MOULDING, OUTDOOR & INDOOR COLUMNS BY PROFESSIONAL FINISH CARPENTERS COLUMNS New for the Do-It-Yourselfers premade corners for all our profiles Over 70 smooth or patterned profiles WAINSCOTING deas. Showroom In Home Design Consultation Available. Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5, 201 Millway Ave., Unit 6 (One light north of Hwy. 7 & Jane) Thurs until 7, or Sat 10-3 www.elitemouldings.com 905-760-1665 416-245-1115 5 THE PRODUCERS OF ABBAMANIA, STAYIN' ALIVE, SOLITARY MAN AND ELVIS, THE WAY IT WAS Live your dream. UNLOCK your RRSP or RRIF Dollars FREE Breakfast Buffet Did you know moving money from your RRSP or RRIF to a Limited Partnership can offset taxes using specific provisions within the Income Tax Act?* Come and see how this tax planning strategy could work for you. Andrew Blanchard, MBA, CFP, CIM, FCSI, EPC Investment Advisor Call 905-847-7777 H EAR AN DR EW'S TOP TE N BOT TOM P ICK S FOR 200 9! *Subject to financial planning assessment and minimum income requirements. OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS FRIDAY, OCT 3/08 - 8:00PM · BOX OFFICE 905-815-2021