An “interruption” under the federal-provincial National Housing Strategy (NHS) agreement has Northumberland County voicing concerns around housing-related funding.
Concerns include immediate worries around subsidies through the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) and potential impacts for an existing 82 Northumberland households relying on this support, county council heard at its May meeting.
At the meeting, Rebecca Carman, associate director of housing and homelessness, delivered an in-depth report around the “National Housing Strategy funding interruption,” following which, county council backed a call for resolution.
“The county has not yet received confirmation that the existing 82 Northumberland households in receipt of COHB will receive benefits after the end of the benefit year on June 30, 2024, putting these households at-risk of losing their subsidy,” reads correspondence issued by the county following the meeting.
This was highlighted as an area of particular concern locally at the meeting, as losing such subsidies could put individuals at risk of homelessness, it was explained. It was also highlighted how municipalities may have to prioritize “backstopping” these families.
In Carman’s report, it’s noted that after an initial referral for support, the county doesn’t have further contact with COHB recipients. However, staff noted the approximate annual cost of COHB in Northumberland is $615,000 – or put another way, a little more than $51,000 monthly.
While council also received federal and provincial correspondence on the matter aimed at addressing concerns – which officials did describe as encouraging – worries remain around the specifics of funding flowing – i.e. how and when in the short- and long-term, council heard.
Funding that is at-risk is through the CMHC-Ontario Bilateral Agreement under the NHS, the report reads.
The bilateral agreement under NHS signed in 2018 set out three cost-matched initiatives delivered by Ontario, including the COHB, which is said to provide households with a portable housing benefit for the private housing market. There’s also the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) to support the repair and renewal of existing social housing, and the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI), prioritizing development of new affordable rentals, according to county correspondence.
According to county staff, back towards end of March, they received correspondence stating the feds had “paused” all NHS funding, effective April 1, 2024.
As a result, a county spokesperson said Northumberland is required to also pause about $1.2 million in programs, including Northumberland Renovates, Community Housing Capital Repairs, and contributions to new rental housing development funded through COCHI and OPHI.
In the staff report, it states the federal government has “paused” about $357 million in funding for social housing supports for Ontario, effective April 1, 2024, and by extension, municipal service managers and district social services administration boards under NHS.
In short, Carman’s report centred around council support in advocating to the federal and provincial governments for immediate continuation of COHB supports for vulnerable households in Northumberland and across Ontario. Further, it was recommended – which council advanced – that council advocate for a resolution to the suspension of NHS funding.
The staff report details federal and provincial points and concerns in the “funding dispute” in more length.
However, in summary, the federal government has expressed concerns over Ontario meeting its targets, while the province is disputing this; arguing the feds aren’t recognizing Ontario’s calculations under affordable housing supply targets.
Regardless, concerns remain around disruptions to households and programs supported through the agreement, council heard.
The report also highlights how the national housing affordability crisis “is most acute in Ontario.”
Council’s resolution is aimed at advocacy efforts and limiting what was described as potentially mounting harms to some of Ontario’s most vulnerable families. The full motion is accessible online, along with the staff report.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
