This title of a very familiar tune, is only a dream or an ache for so many people in large cities, in small towns, and right here in our very affluent city of London. The cost of housing is beyond the reach of so many in Canada. I am not talking about the dream of winning a home through a lottery. I am talking about a simple and affordable apartment that is safe so someone can live in dignity. I don’t want be alarmist, but I think we are near a crisis.
A mother called me a few days ago in tears because she had been told she would have to wait eight years to get an apartment if she put her name on the social housing wait list. What was she to do? She was working the equivalent of full-time, by cobbling together a few part-time contracts. She is not eligible for any health benefits and is living in an apartment now that is too expensive and she pays taxes. But her money runs out before the month runs out.
The need for affordable housing is urgent and critical. However, it is only a symptom of an economy that runs on the work of so many people like this mom, but who is unable to afford to live and raise her family and participate in the economy we say is there for all of us.
I know solutions are not easy or quick. I work with a non-profit group who tries to increase the number of affordable housing units in London. The systems to make this happen is broken and almost non-responsive. I do not believe there is no solution. There are enough creative people who want solutions. We need to think “outside the box”. We keep trying to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. I believe there are enough caring and creative people in our city, across all sectors who are willing to risk trying to do things different. Let's make a difference!
An interesting article from the London Free Press:
Ontario plan a start, but not an end to London housing crisis: Expert
- Joan Atkinson, CSJ | Office for Systemic Justice | London, ON