“Affordable housing” is defined by the CMHC to be housing that costs less than 30% of a household’s pre-tax income. In Calgary, the “median affordable rent” is $895/month for the bottom 90% of income tax filers who are apparently more likely to rent than buy a home (958,415 people), based on the median annual pre-tax income of $35,800.  Similarly calculated for other Canadian cities, median affordable monthly rent is:

• Edmonton,  Alberta  – $928
• Halifax, Nova Scotia - $838
• Montreal, Quebec – $743
• Ottawa-Gatineau Ontario Part, Ontario - $980
• Regina, Saskatchewan - $973
• Toronto, Ontario - $703
• Winnipeg, Manitoba - $805
• Vancouver, British Columbia - $735

(See NOTE A.)

Affordable housing is urgently needed – including at this time of COVID-19:

1. "Market rent” increased 48% despite poor economy: $979 to $1,449 per month – a prior UPDATE to this petition
2. Rent Relief in Canada Top of Mind for Tenants as Pandemic Goes On – Huffington Post – April 23, 2020
3. Drop-In Centre asks landlords for help with affordable housing amid COVID-19 – Calgary Sun – April 21, 2020.  Wanted: rent at $300 to $900 per month.
4. Canmore housing corporate cuts rent prices by 25 per cent to offset coronavirus impact – Globe and Mail  - April 13, 2020
5. Finding Home:  Calgary’s at-risk population goes beyond the “visible homeless” – Calgary Herald –  March 16, 2018
6. $22/hr is average wage to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Canada: report - Global News – July 17, 2019 :  regarding the Unaccommodating – July 2019 report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.

The City of Calgary Affordable Housing division long ago told us that: “Affordable housing is foundational to community prosperity....Great cities are places where everyone can afford to live and work.”  (See NOTE B.)

The FRONTLINE needs affordable housing.  In Calgary, the top labour force groups work in the retail trade (11 per cent) and in  health care and social assistance (11 per cent): low- and moderate-paying industries that need affordable housing. (See NOTE C.)

Crime HURTS. Stabilize communities  - see STOP the disturbingly HIGH apartment turnover in cities with little rent protection. (Prior UPDATE to this petition.)

Mental health is key in stressful times of COVID-19, high unemployment and high uncertainty. Tenants should not have to worry about affordable housing too.  See about The City of Calgary Council’s $25 million community-wide mental health, addiction and crime strategy including for “people living lives of quiet despair…we will do better” – at ~3:49 in VIDEO by Mayor Nenshi on August 1, 2018. Grow SUNFLOWERS! Plant KINDNESS!

Make affordable housing the TOP PRIORITY – TODAY.

THANK YOU, fellow Canadians, for signing the petition!!  It really does help.  Let’s PROTECT RENTERS:  let’s make it a WIN-WIN-WIN solution for Renters and Community as well as Landlords.  Please pass the petition on to others!

Stay safe, stay healthy!                               

Anne

We the Courageous

NOTE A:  See Statistics Canada Table 11-10-0056-01, customized, 2017, for “total income”. Rent is likely to NOT be “affordable” for those earning below the “median” pre-tax income used to calculate the “median affordable rent”.  “Tax filer”  and not “household” information was used to provide a conservative estimate of “affordable housing/rent” at a time of the challenging economy.

NOTE B: Foundations for Home Calgary’s Corporate Affordable Housing Strategy 2016-2025 – The City of Calgary Affordable Housing, page 4.

NOTE C: Housing Needs Assessment 2018 – The City of Calgary, page 9.