Did you know that the waitlist for affordable housing doubled in the past decade? Access to affordable housing is a serious problem in our province. Here are the facts:
- More than 110,000 low-income Albertans live in affordable housing and more than 24,000 are on a waitlist for affordable housing.
- The Government of Alberta’s affordable housing strategy capital funding allocations do not cover the costs to deliver on the commitment to add 13,000 new affordable housing units in the next 10 years.
- For some affordable housing organizations, it has been more than a decade since they’ve seen an increase in their maintenance budgets.
- A recent Leger poll found 70% of Albertans agree that the provincial government has an obligation to invest in building new affordable housing units and 60% are more likely to vote for a party that proposed concrete action to end homelessness, support those struggling with mental health and addictions, and build safe and affordable housing in Alberta.
All levels of government have a responsibility to ensure that Alberta is adding to and maintaining its affordable housing supply while providing supports to the people that need them most. The Social Policy Collaborative – a group of 17 community organizations, many who serve vulnerable Albertans – has identified three key policy recommendations that will help the provincial government meet its commitment to housing.
Now is the time to invest in affordable housing. Here’s how you can help:
- Get informed! Read A path to recovery: Growing Alberta's affordable housing stock and recovery-oriented support systems.
- Reach out to the candidates in your riding and tell them you support action on affordable housing.
- Help spread the word. Check out these social media cards and use them to express support for increased funding to affordable housing.
The Government of Alberta’s recent announcement of funding for homelessness is welcome, and we look forward to ongoing dialogue to address this serious issue.
