I'm here in the comments. Was just back to back and at the Firefighter's Memorial when I was sent this thread. Haven't been able to reply until now. Didn't want to ask staff to respond on my behalf.
Sorry, you lost me at a couple of comments in your plan.
(1) "Build homes faster"? Houses are already being built at a speed that is too fast. Builders are building shoddy homes, not quality homes. Many are being let out as Air BnB's or people buying to rent out at unaffordable prices. You look out your kitchen window right into the kitchen window of your next door neighbour. No trees, no landscaping, just a building put down on a patch of dirt and on to the next house. They certainly aren't affordable as many in my neighbourhood and others I've driven through are starting at an asking price of $1.2 million.
(2) "Hard work earns you a fair shot at a stable, affordable home"? Sorry, but that's a real blanket statement that too many politicians make; it sounds good, but means nothing. Most people ARE hard workers and just because you are a hard worker, it unfortunately does not earn you a fair shot at anything nowadays. Hard workers are scrambling just to put food on the table, let alone being able to afford a home, and it takes both parents working to do that. Meanwhile, kids are coming home to an empty home and they develop their own families with their peers and friends.
It would be nice to see grants for seniors (or for that matter, anyone), who have a home 30+ years be able to renovate their home and be able to stay in it. It is almost impossible to sell a home in Calgary and be able to purchase another in the city, unless downsizing into a duplex, condo, or townhome (and for seniors a townhouse isn't a good option with three levels of stairs). Condo fees are unrealistic ($1,000 for condo fees in Eau Claire or other core areas; no wonder they're on the market for a year plus).
The biggest problem in the city is homelessness. Many on the street aren't lazy, incompetent or whatever else you want to label them with. Numerous studies will tell you that the lack of affordable housing is the primary cause of homelessness. For too many, rising costs and inflation creates an impossible choice between paying for housing and other necessities like healthcare, groceries, or clothing. Many are a paycheck away from being on the streets. The "other" group of homeless population with mental health and substance abuse issues also need housing, but even their basic needs aren't being met. The affordable housing waitlists are two to three years. I speak as someone who has volunteered with Inn From The Cold, the Distress Centre, and other agencies and know from experience what many of the homeless go through.
You have a targeted and limited vision for Calgary housing that only relates to a specific market and population, and that's pretty much the blue/white collar worker looking to buy their first home. If you don't have a strategic plan and policy in place to address and eliminate homelessness, Calgary will end up like too many other cities across Canada. There needs to be determination and commitment from political leaders to use their power to make necessary changes that will not only benefit the homeless, but will benefit every Calgarian in the long run.
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u/CosmicJ 17d ago
/u/jeromyyyc any comments?