Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador P. O. Box 8551, 20 Hallett Crescent St. John s, NL A1B 3P2 September 30, 2011 NL Housing & Homelessness Network 120 LeMarchant Road St. John's, NL A1C 2H2 Dear Ms. Yetman Dawson, I write further to your email to the Premier dated September 26, 2011 on issues of housing and homelessness in Newfoundland and Labrador. It should also be noted that in 2006, our province became one of the first jurisdictions in Canada to establish a Poverty Reduction Strategy. Advocates have praised our approach as a model for other jurisdictions to follow. By the end of the current fiscal year, our cumulative investment in poverty reduction since 2006 will be more than $620 million. In addition, in 2009, we released our Social Housing Strategy entitled Secure Foundations: A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador. Its goals continue to shape the approach of our government as we move forward. 1. Will you require all provincial strategies to incorporate a housing and homelessness lens, directing each report on concrete steps they are taking towards the goals of ending homelessness and ensuring housing stability? We will commission a study to quantify the housing needs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in various regions, accounting for needs that may be hidden from view. We will consider solutions to couch surfing, daytime homelessness among boarders and others who are expected to be out of their dwellings during daytime hours, and the scourge of slum landlords. We will explore measures that would encourage and assist homeowners to add rooms and apartment and to undertake other renovations to address local housing supply issues. We will explore ways to encourage the construction of small-size dwellings to meet the needs of smaller families with limited financial means. We will be especially vigilant to ensure we do circumstances that penalize individuals from leaving violent, abusive situations they may be enduring at home. We will work with community organizations to identify and implement progressive approaches to address homelessness effectively.
2. Will you convene an annual general meeting between NLHHN, the Transition House Association of NL, Aboriginal governments and leaders, Municipalities NL, and the Minister of HRLE Responsible for NL Housing which oversees the implementation of the Social Housing Plan to help us work together? A primary component of poverty reduction is housing. The issues are complex, they vary across the province and they extend far beyond issues of poverty reduction, though ultimately all aspects of the housing market have an impact on poverty. We have already outlined our approach to social housing one component of the comprehensive housing initiative. As stated above, in 2009, we released our Social Housing Strategy entitled Secure Foundations: A Social Housing Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador. The priorities developed in this plan are the result of a collaborative approach that has involved extensive input from community stakeholders, as well as dialogue across the government systems responsible for health, justice, social services and housing. Objectives of the strategy include greater integration of housing and support service to promote self-reliance and community participation; increased supply of accessible housing; initiatives that support personal development and community participation; enhanced information exchange on housing need and market trends; enhanced coordination and integration of programs and services between government partners; enhanced capacity of Aboriginal organizations and community partners to deliver housing services; enhanced management of assets and service to clients and delivery partners; increased rental options for low- and moderate-income households; increased assistance to low- and moderate-income households for repair of privately-owned homes; and increased housing assistance for Off-Reserve Aboriginal households; improved quality of NL Housing homes. In addition, we will support partnerships to assess the need for a range of affordable and accessible housing options. Partners will involve government, the public, the regional health authorities, and others. We will support affordable and accessible rental housing for seniors through the Affordable Housing Program. We will continue to provide rent supplement for low income persons, including seniors, residing in Newfoundland Labrador Housing. We will identify and support other programs and services that allow seniors to maintain or modify current housing. We will endorse affordable housing design and construction. Since 2003, over $52 million has been invested in the Affordable Housing Program in this province, and by the end of next year approximately 900 new affordable homes (private sector - 635 units; non-profit sector- 265 units) will have been constructed for low-moderate income seniors, families, persons with disabilities and persons with complex needs. 3. Will your party strengthen the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA 2000)?
The Department of Government Services is currently reviewing the Residential Tenancies Act. 4. Would you and your party increase and index Income Support shelter allowances and expand and index rent supplements to help bridge the actual private rental housing affordability gap for low income individuals and families? And renew and expand rent supplements for persons with complex mental health needs, tailor their linkage to support services, in partnership with supplement recipients? Subsidies provided under the rent supplement program are adjusted to reflect market conditions. Initial research on the viability of using Shelter Allowances is under review by the NL Policy and Research Housing staff. The first step is to develop an accurate count of the potential number of applicants for this assistance. In 2009, NL Housing, for the first time, partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Stella Burry Community Services to use rent supplements to provide adequate and affordable housing to clients in the community served by these two organizations. A total of 78 rent supplement units were earmarked for clients of the Canadian Mental Health Association and Stella Burry Community Services in 2009/10. NL Housing also hired a Community Support Liaison Officer to work with these organizations and identify other clients as well with complex service needs that could be assisted through the Rent Supplement Program. 5. Would you ensure that major resource projects (energy, mining, etc.) address the potential impact on the affordable housing markets in the affected communities (including community benefits for affordable housing)? It is important to note that the Muskrat Falls project will generate 8,600 person-years of direct employment and 18,400 person-years of total employment in Newfoundland and Labrador. At peak employment during the construction phase, which we expect to occur in 2013, we will see about 2,700 people working. Total income from the construction phase for labour and business in Newfoundland and Labrador will be approximately 220 million dollars a year, which adds up to 1.4 billion dollars over the course of the project. In addition, we will develop a program to support families with incomes up to $60,000 with the first purchase of a modest-priced home inability to get a down-payment is the primary barrier blocking moderate-inc families from home ownership. Our program will be a multi-sector partnership that provides equity and other supports to prospective homeowners whose incomes falls beneath the threshold and whose chosen home falls within an established limit (perhaps $200,000 or $250,000, determined following a period of investigation). We will develop this program in partnership with a range of agencies municipalities; the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; financial institutions; the non-profit sector; and legal firms. We propose Newfoundland Labrador Housing Corporation would provide a grant to partially or fully fund a 5% down-payment (If the maximum home price is set at$200,000, the maximum grant would be 5% of that, or
$5,000.) Following a period of consultation, we will finalize and unveil the details of the role each partner will play. This initiative has the potential to provide a novel path to home ownership for low-to moderate-income households, assisting 200 or more households for each million-dollar provincial investment. 6. Would your party create a Provincial Properties for Homelessness Initiative (similar to the federal program) under which provincially-owned properties shall be offered to affordable housing providers at nominal cost? Our party has committed to helping people in this province who are struggling with coming up with the money to buy a home. As previously mentioned, we announced in our Blue Book we will develop a program to support families with incomes up to $60,000 with the first purchase of a modest-priced home. The inability to get a down-payment is the primary barrier blocking moderate-income families from home ownership. Our program will be a multi-sector partnership that provides equity and other supports to prospective homeowners whose incomes fall beneath the threshold and whose chosen home falls within an established limit (perhaps $200,000 or $250,000, determined following a period of investigation). We will develop this program in partnership with a range of agencies municipalities; the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; financial institutions; the non-profit sector; and legal firms. We propose Newfoundland Labrador House Corporation would provide a grant to partially or fully fund a 5% down-payment (If the maximum home price is set at $200,000, the maximum grant would be 5% of that, or $5,000.) Following a period of consultation, we will finalize and unveil the details of the role each partner will play. This initiative has the potential to provide a novel path to home ownership for lowto-moderate-income households, assisting 200 or more households for each million-dollar provincial investment. 7. Will your party strengthen policies/processes across government related to the many transitions that homeless and at-risk youth make (e.g. from youth services to income support, to education and employment and, more generally, as they move from youth to adult systems), and ensure policies enable unencumbered and supportive transitions, while preventing homelessness? The Provincial Government recognizes there is a wide range of complex issues which can contribute to a young person s decision to leave school prior to graduation, and is committed to exploring innovative means by which they can continue their education, and succeed in life. In Budget 2011, we announced over $1 million is being provided through the Department of Education for the Positive Actions for Students (PASS) program over the next two years. The program is designed to reach out to disengaged and at-risk youth in an effort to help them remain in school and continue their education. This initiative currently provides support for over 250 students in selected schools across the province.
In addition, the Murphy Centre, located in St. John s, will receive an additional $115,400 annually from the department to enable 25 more individuals to access its academic programs. The centre provides a vital service to more than 500 individuals, providing a high school credit program, Adult Basic Education, and personal and career services. Through the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, we provide the Youth Services Program. The goal of this program is to assist at-risk young people, age 16 and 17, make a successful transition to adulthood. Social work intervention and services may be provided to youth and their families. Youth Services can be either residential or nonresidential. Non-Residential Youth Services provides support services made available to young people living in their family home to address issues which could affect their safety and development, including maltreatment and neglect, as well as mental health and addiction issues. These services are offered in an effort to keep the family together and avoid out of home placements. Residential Youth Services is designed to help if a youth is at risk of maltreatment in his/her family or has no parent willing or able to provide care to the youth, he/she can be offered residential and support services under a voluntary agreement. 8. Would your party establish matched savings and financial literacy programs for low-income persons to support three critical asset-building objectives: moving from homelessness to rental housing, purchasing a home, and pursuing education, training or self-employment? As we stated in the Blue Book, we will commission a study to quantify the housing needs of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in various regions, accounting for needs that may be hidden from view. We will consider solutions to couch surfing, daytime homelessness among boarders and others who are expected to be out of their dwellings during daytime hours, and the scourge of slum landlords. We will explore measures that would encourage and assist homeowners to add rooms and apartments and to undertake other renovations to address local housing supply issues. We will explore ways to encourage the construction of small-size dwellings to meet the needs of smaller families with limited financial means. We will be especially vigilant to ensure we do circumstances that penalize individuals from leaving violent, abusive situations they may be enduring at home. We will work with community organizations to identify and implement progressive approaches to address homelessness effectively. In addition we announced the program to support families with incomes up to $60,000 with the first purchase of a modest-priced home inability to get a down-payment is the primary barrier blocking moderate-income families from home ownership. This initiative has the potential to provide a novel path to home ownership for low-to-moderate- income households, assisting 200 or more households for each million-dollar provincial investment.
In 2011 Budget, through the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, our government announced $2.4 million in additional funding which will be provided for the Supportive Living Community Partnership Program which brings the total funding available in 2011-12 to $4.8 million. This program provides funding to community-based organizations that help people who are vulnerable to homelessness. The funding is used to help develop housing supports for people experiencing multiple barriers and to promote housing stability. Further initiatives through the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) are: $1 million in additional funding per year, over the next two years, to expand the Rent Supplement Program, bringing the total investment to $7 million in 2011-12 and $8 million in 2012-13. This initiative will provide financial help to approximately 375 low income households that are waitlisted for housing units. Community partners Stella Burry Community Services and the Canadian Mental Health Association will be allocated 25 extra rent supplements each to serve persons with complex needs. This initiative represents a doubling of the rent supplement funding since 2007; $1.2 million to construct new public housing in Hopedale. Four public housing units will be constructed for individuals living in low income who require smaller housing units; $200,000 in additional funding for community centres. These centres have been established in eight communities to provide tenants with opportunities to engage in social, educational, recreational, employment and career development, as well as health and wellness programs; $100,000 in additional funding for neighbourhood centres which are tailored to the needs of smaller neighbourhoods; and, $110,000 in additional funding to reduce rent to a flat rate of 25 per cent of income for working tenants, and to expand the educational incentive to families in community-based housing. This initiative will help approximately 120 families who live in community-based housing and it will also help approximately 250 families gain access to an educational incentive that will better position them for employment and self-sufficiency in future. These initiatives support the strategic goals of the Social Housing Plan Secure Foundations. The annual Provincial Government investment in the strategy for 2011-12 is $17.5 million. In terms of education we announced through the Blue Book that we will continue to support all of the previous initiatives, and build upon them for the benefit of our students. In particular, we will: eliminate the provincial student loan over four years, and replace it with an upfront needs-based grant;
ensure student debt reduction grants are available, not only to full-time students, but also to part-time students; and, ensure students are given regular information on the status of their loans and repayment options. We will continue to freeze public post-secondary tuition fees by investing over $52 million throughout our mandate to keep tuition fees from rising. As a government we also fund the Adult Basic Education (ABE) which is a provincial program for adult learners and is made up of three levels: Level I refers to basic literacy and roughly equates to K-6; Level II is considered equivalent to grades 7-9; Level III corresponds to grades 10-12 and requires the completion of a minimum of 36 credits in order to graduate. Individuals on income support wishing to attend ABE are eligible to receive placement support allowance which may include a start-up allowance, monthly stipend, transportation and subsidized child care. We developed the Job Start Benefit program to assist people leaving Income Support for work who are eligible additional funding to assist with certain expenses when going to work. Our government also has a program in place called Skills Development which provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to help them get the skills training they need to find employment. Financial assistance may be provided for the following eligible costs: tuition, books, mandatory fees, living expenses, dependent care expenses, disability needs, transportation and accommodation. I encourage you to review our Blue Book which outlines the direction a Progressive Conservative government will take if re-elected on October 11, 2011. A copy of the Blue Book can be found at Book (http://newenergynl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pc-blue- Book_Web.pdf). We sincerely appreciate your comments and interest in the Progressive Conservative Party s view on the issues presented in your letter, as we continue to work together in building a stronger Newfoundland and Labrador. Sincerely, Ross Reid 2011 Campaign Chair Progressive Conservative Party Of Newfoundland and Labrador