HUMA Committee Report

3 October 2022

Supplementary Report from the New Democratic Party of Canada

The New Democratic Party heard testimony in the recent Housing Accelerator Fund Study that is not fully captured in the report from the HUMA Committee. Although the main report, captures the recommendation of many witnesses, and urges the adoption and implementation of tactics that could increase housing supply, the most urgent need in our communities is affordable housing supply. The New Democrats heard the testimony that the initial goals of the Housing Accelerator Fund missed the mark, including opportunities for affordable and off-market housing.

A key concern raised during witness testimony was the displacement of people from their current affordable housing. As new supplies replace old, too many affordable homes are being lost with no safety net for residents. We are losing affordable housing at a rate of 15:1 right now in Canada[1]. New Democrats are worried about persons with disabilities, single parents and seniors who are in these housing units.[2]

The need for more focus on affordable housing was raised by the Federal Housing Advocate, Marie-Josée Houle, appointed in February of this year. She spoke of the human rights lens that must permeate the Housing Accelerator Fund[3]. The NDP also supports her call for the criteria of the national housing strategy be reflected in the Housing Accelerator Fund, including that it be accessible, affordable and green[4].

During the Housing Accelerator Fund testimony at HUMA, numerous witnesses testified on the importance of ensuring that the supply the government builds is the right kind of supply[5] addressing the needs of a variety of household sizes from single occupants to multi-generational homes, with there being a major gap in affordable rental housing.

With that importance in mind, New Democrats reiterate the recommendations made to the Minister of Housing and Diversity Inclusion on 27 June 2022 which were not included in the Committee’s final report:

1.    That any new housing funded through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) adhere to strong affordability, accessibility and environmental standards.
2.    That the HAF has a clear definition of goals as it relates to affordable housing outcomes, as well as an accountability framework for results.
3.    That government accelerate the creation of an ​Urban, Rural and Northern For Indigenous By Indigenous National Housing Authority ​with sufficient funding dedicated to a housing and homelessness strategy ​that they will develop, building housing immediately ​to address the housing crisis.
4.    That the HAF target the creation of below-market housing.
5.    That investments provided to municipalities to incentivize the creation of net new affordable housing units and non-profit acquisitions, and give weighted importance to funding that supports higher densities, long-term affordability, transit-oriented development, inclusionary zoning policies, climate friendly and energy efficient units, and increasing the supply of affordable family-oriented units and deeply affordable units for women, gender diverse people, Indigenous people, ​youth-at-risk ​and persons with disabilities.
6.    That the federal government develop additional measures through the NHS that will level ​the playing field for municipalities and not-for-profits in purchasing existing rental buildings and vacant land in order to protect the long-term affordability of existing rental housing stock and ensure that vacant urban land is used for the development of affordable housing and not speculation, including a moratorium on REIT acquisitions and creating a fund for non-profits to acquire rental apartment buildings on the market.
7.    That these measures are rolled out rapidly and launched before the end of 2023, given the urgency of the housing crisis

As the Federal Housing Advocate concluded in her submission to this study:

“If the issues raised in this submission are left unaddressed, there is a significant risk that the Housing Accelerator Fund will fail to advance the human right to housing, and the objectives of the NHSA. If I am still speaking to you about the importance of aligning NHS programs like the Housing Accelerator Fund with the NHSA when my first term as Advocate expires in three years, you will know that this initiative has been a failure.”[6]

The New Democrats encourage the Government to consider this supplementary information for the Housing Accelerator Fund.