Wellington-Guelph Housing Committee
We believe…
The Wellington-Guelph Housing Committee (WGHC) believes that everyone should have access to housing that offers choice, security, affordability and adequate shelter within communities that foster and support a sense of belonging and acceptance. Recognizing that homelessness and precarious housing is a complex problem that requires solutions at multiple levels, the WGHC involves a variety of stakeholders in educational, collaborative and advocacy activities that are aimed at easing and preventing the problem in our community.
What we know…
- The Guelph CMA has the second lowest vacancy rate in Ontario at 0.6%, well below what is considered a healthy vacancy rate (3%) (Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation, 2015).
- Affordable market rent options for tenant households with incomes in the bottom 20% income levels are virtually nonexistent in the Wellington area (5%) and the Guelph area (less than 1%) (County of Wellington, 2012).
- No new permanent social housing (geared-to-income housing) has been built since 1995 due to lack of sustainable capital and operating funding from senior levels of government (County of Wellington, 2012).
What we’re doing about it…
- Advocating for the implementation of an Ontario Housing Benefit. Read more about the proposed OHB here: OHB info sheet
- Developing and distributing the 2014 Housing Access Guide, available here: Housing Access Guide 2014
Who we are…
Co-chair: Suzanne Swanton & Gary Roche
- City of Guelph
- County of Wellington
- Wyndham House
- ARCH – HIV/AIDS Resources & Community Health
- Welcome In, Drop In Centre
- Michael House
- Legal Clinic of Guelph and Wellington
- Community Resource Centre
- Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination
- and more….
For more information, please contact info”at”gwpoverty.ca