Presentation by Deputy Mayor Shannie DuffNBNPHA Conference – St. John, NB

May 7-8, 2010

Background• The City of St. John’s like many communities in the

Atlantic Provinces grew in support of the fishing industry with housing created to provide shelter close to the place of work.

• The population exploded during World War II. Overcrowding and lack of investment in residential properties and neighbourhoods resulted in deteriorating housing conditions, particularly in working class neighbourhoods.

• In the 1950's and 60's, whole working class neighbourhoods in the west end of the City were demolished in an Urban Renewal Program.

Post War Years

• New subdivisions developed• Lack of investment and further deterioration in

older downtown neighbourhoods• Serious lack of affordable housing• Large new social housing projects constructed

with Federal/Provincial funding• City provides subsidy over life of 50 year

operating agreements

Neighbourhood Improvement Program (NIP)/Residential Rehabilitation Assistance

Program (RRAP) – 1970's

• City embraces the Federal Neighbourhood Improvement Program (NIP) and Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP)

• Older neighbourhoods revitalized with infrastructure investments

• Hundreds of older homes repaired by homeowners with RRAP funds

• Hundreds of new rental units created in private market

• City signs agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)

• 423 new units of City owned and operated affordable housing constructed

• No new units added to Municipal Housing portfolio since 1993

Direct Delivery by Municipality

1982-1983

City Units

Today's Housing Scene in St. John's

• Population – 103,000, with ageing population• Many persons with complex needs• Zero vacancy rate for rental accommodations• Many Low End of Market (LEM) Apartments

converted to condos• No new rental apartment units constructed in the

past 20 years• Rapidly rising housing costs

Current Stock of Affordable Housing (2007)

Recent Municipal Initiatives 2004-2010

• 2004 – Council establishes an ad hoc Affordable Housing Committee to review and make recommendations on affordable housing and homelessness

• Three levels of Government, housing support agencies and private sector represented

• Result:- Improved interagency communication and public awareness

- New interagency protocols for reporting on sub-standard accommodation for Social Services Recipients

- Improvements to regulations and enforcement related to building maintenance and life safety

Initiatives Cont'd

2005-2007:

• Council establishes a steering committee to study and make recommendations to Council on appropriate long term role for the City in the area of affordable housing

• Housing Forum organized and co-funded by the City, CMHC, and the St. John's Community Advisory Committee on Homelessness. Presenters from across Canada.

• Major study on affordable housing in St. John's undertaken

• City establishes multi-agency Affordable Housing Action Committee (AHAC)

Since its inception AHAC has:

• Developed an action plan for Housing Priorities

• Successfully lobbied for surplus federal lands for affordable housing

• Successfully recommended the creation of a Housing Coordinator, at the City level

• Spearheaded the City's re-entry into direct delivery as part of the Pleasantville Redevelopment Project

• The Committee has recently been renamed as the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Affordable Housing and reports directly to Council

Pleasantville Redevelopment

• Major redevelopment of 26 hectares of land at Pleasantville, the site of a former American WW2 base, and currently owned by the Canada Lands Company and approved for a mixed residential development

• Two hectares of land granted to the City for development of affordable housing

Pleasantville and the City

What Else Can A City Do?

• Strong advocacy for new affordable housing and inclusiveness

• Encourage the development of new affordable housing through Planning and Development

• Enforce minimum property standards

• Provide direct municipal incentives

Municipal Incentives

• Waiver of development fees and permits• Waiver of property taxes to charitable

organizations• Donations or transfer of City owned lands for the

development of new affordable housing • Support services to housing and homelessness• In kind technical assistance• Cost sharing of projects which provide enhanced

community value and wellness

Advocacy

• In addition to direct contribution to project development the City must be seen as an advocate for new affordable housing and inclusiveness

• Representation on behalf of those in need must be made to Provincial and Federal Governments and must be demonstrated in the community

Concluding Remarks & Questions