- Hub staff
Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker says the province’s new Community Housing Renewal Strategy will be "ready to help people who need it most."
Thursday he announced that Grey County is receiving a total of $2,982,221 for housing initiatives. Bruce County will receive $1,445,328.
At this time, the Owen Sound Hub cannot provide our readers with information about these numbers relative to past years or community needs. We will follow up with the County of Grey. The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association has not had time to respond to the latest announcement, but their response to the Ontario budget is on their website.
Grey County is getting $431,500 in funding from the Investment in Affordable Housing in Ontario program, $1,816,494 in funding from the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative, $723,600 from the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative and $10,627 from the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative.
Some of the early steps announced in Ontario’s new Community Housing Renewal Strategy include:
· Making rent more predictable by simplifying rent calculations;
· Having tenants prioritize their first choice in community housing and accept the first unit they are offered, while allowing Service Managers flexibility to make exceptions in extenuating circumstances;
· Protecting tenants who receive child support payments by ensuring their rent is not impacted by payments;
· Requiring an asset test. (Currently If your assets are worth more than $50,000 you will not qualify for affordable housing through Grey County.)
· Empowering housing providers to turn away tenants who have been evicted for criminal activity.