A local homelessness advocacy group is calling on the federal government to invest $2.5 billion over two years in affordable housing as part of an economic stimulus plan.
The money would mean “just over $61 million for Ottawa, or approximately 470 to 555 new affordable housing units,” Perry Rowe, chairman of the Alliance to End Homelessness in Ottawa said in a release.
Last year, only 73 new affordable units were built in Ottawa, he said.
“Ottawa needs new affordable housing stock that is either purpose-built or created by purchase and conversion, adaptive reuse or renovation of property,” said Rowe. “We also need new supportive housing units and we need to repair existing social housing.”
The alliance is also asking Mayor Larry O’Brien to take the issue to the Big City Mayors’ Caucus in Ottawa this week.
Nationwide, the investment would create 30,000 to 50,000 units of affordable housing.
The investment would help vulnerable Canadians weather the recession, Rowe added, and create work for the construction industry.
