Housing forum fails to draw big crowd

Political candidates in attendance urged to pay greater attention to issue
Nicole Million Simcoe.com Oct 06, 2010
PENETANGUISHENE – With municipal elections less than three weeks away, it’s not only the candidates striving to get their issues on the table.
In an effort to make its concerns known, the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness invited candidates for mayor and deputy mayor in Midland, Penetanguishene, and Tiny and Tay townships to a forum Tuesday night on housing and homelessness.
Approximately 10 candidates attended the meeting at St. Paul’s United Church in Midland, a number that disappointed alliance chair Trevor Lester.
“The purpose of this evening is to inform the candidates on the issue we have with housing in Simcoe County. Our report card on homelessness identified the county has the lowest number of subsidized units per capita in all of Ontario,” he told The Mirror. “We want them to create the message when they’re in office that Simcoe County needs more (affordable) housing.”
Lester said an invitation was sent to candidates for mayor and deputy mayor in all four municipalities for whom he could find an email.
“We expected them to be here. The best way to help people that are most in need is to provide housing and support,” he said. “We’re asking for the candidates to become aware of the issue.”
In attendance were Penetanguishene mayoral candidate Doug Leroux, incumbent Tiny Township mayor Peggy Breckenridge, deputy mayor candidate Bill Rawson, as well as Midland mayoral candidate Gord McKay and deputy mayor hopeful Stephan Kramp.
The evening started with the 30-minute documentary “In Focus: Seeking Shelter,” an in-depth look at six people in Simcoe County currently living at or below the poverty line.
Candidates, including several running for a council position, were also provided with information on homelessness and affordable housing in Simcoe County before being invited to speak on the issue.
Peter Ridout of Habitat For Humanity North Simcoe implored the candidates to help find a solution to the housing crisis in the area.
“We all realize that we’ve only put Band-Aids on the problem. Unless we do something to eliminate the need and address the needs of the homeless, we are going to keep putting Band-Aids on the same problem over and over again,” he said. “What we have to do is develop a strategy to address the issue.”
Breckenridge acknowledged housing is an issue in the area, but reminded the crowd of the many budgetary pressures facing the county.
Leroux, who is currently the deputy mayor for Penetanguishene and sits on the county’s human services committee, said he is “very aware” of the issues facing municipalities. He also noted the county currently puts a significant amount of its budget toward social issues, including $1.5 million annually for its social restructuring fund, which includes rent subsidies, an energy assistance program and a homelessness partnership fund.
“Is there a need for more affordable housing? Absolutely. And I support any initiative to make this happen,” he said.
McKay, well known for his work with Midland’s Out of the Cold program, acknowledged the many existing county initiatives, but questioned whether or not they are working.
McKay said he has spoken to many people who have indicated to him they are considering leaving the area, as they can no longer afford to live here.
“We have a challenge here, and we have to resolve it. We need a North Simcoe strategy. We have unique needs here in North Simcoe,” he said. “The average county plan does not work here.”
Zena Pendlebury, who is running for re-election as a Ward 1 councillor in Midland, noted the issue boils down to one key point – the lack since 2002 of a federal housing plan.
“We are spinning our wheels. We need to put the pressure in the right place. The one thing that really upsets me is that we only hear about these issues around election time. What happens the rest of the time?” she asked. “We have to focus our resources to the proper level, and that is Ottawa. We are the only industrialized nation in the world that doesn’t have a social-housing strategy.”
Pat File, who is also seeking re-election in Midland’s Ward 1, disagreed. She said there are a number of initiatives the municipalities can focus on at a local level, including providing lots to Habitat for Humanity or shelters.
“Pictures speak louder than words,” said Ward 2 Midland candidate Ute Schmid, commenting on the documentary shown earlier in the evening. “I know what it is like to be that close…. We need to recognize the changing face of homelessness.”