Twenty-four years ago, Christine Mounsteven packed up and moved into what she hopes will be her last home, one that by location and through affordable rent has resulted in an extremely high quality of life. The former teacher, 83, is a member of the Charles Hastings Co-op and pays about $1,200 for a two-bedroom apartment, including heating and cable, on Elm St., just steps from the Art Gallery of Ontario. Mounsteven, who lives off pensions and asked that her income not be shared, said without affordable housing her budget would be extremely tight.“Why should it only be for the wealthy to live in downtown and have access to resources and be able to raise their children safely, to feel they are part of a community,” Mounsteven asked. “That is what makes a city, the diversity of income, the diversity right across the board.” Mounsteven’s situation is considered an example of what is possible with proper investments in social housing, but a new report warns that the demand for affordable housing across the province is rapidly outgrowing supply and current plans to expand could fall short.An Affordable Housing Plan for Ontario, released Thursday, was created through a partnership between the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (Ontario) and includes four key recommendations: The creation of 69,000 new affordable rental homes over 10 years; financial support of $10,000 for each of 260,000 existing social housing units over the next 10 years; 30,000 new supportive housing units for people living with mental health issues and addictions; and providing rent supplements or income support for 311,000 households. “This is a bold plan and ambitious plan but it has never been more needed and more possible,” said Simone Swail, manager, government relations for the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (Ontario Region). “Ontario is facing an affordable housing crisis and we ...
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