Housing crisis takes centre stage at national conference
Habitat for Humanity Canada is in town for their national conference and general meeting and the focus is on housing.
“We've never had housing needs like this,” said Habitat Canada President Julia Deans.
The event is being hosted at Caesars Windsor and is using the city as a backdrop because Windsor shares in the nationwide housing shortage.
“You also have one of our most effective Habitat organizations that's so involved in the community building homes, building gardens,” Deans said while pointing out housing is hard to build because of cost.
Habitat for Humanity is being creative by building multi-units, doing critical repairs, and doing what they can to get housing built.
The biggest challenge?
“It's hard to get land,” Deans said. “It's expensive. Municipalities will often donate it, but often they won't and we need land in order to build the homes our communities need.”
Habitat for Humanity Canada President and CEO Julia Deans seen on May 8, 2024. (Chris Campbell/CTV News Windsor)
Fiona Coughlin, CEO of Habitat’s Windsor-Essex branch, is thrilled to have delegates from 45 branches in town.
“We're really proud to bring so many housing experts to Windsor-Essex to discuss strategies to address the housing crisis,” said Coughlin, who noted the Windsor branch has built 85 homes in Windsor-Essex and restored 30 units since 1994.
She said Habitat is focused on neighbourhood renewal and have their eye on different parts of the region.
“My goal is always [to] get every boarded up house in the city,” Coughlin said. “I want to take it down and put up a beautiful house and have residents that are giving back to the community and paying taxes too.”
City Coun. Jim Morrison attended the first day of the event Wednesday, “I'd certainly like to help turn those (boarded up houses) over to Habitat for Humanity to make really nice affordable housing in the city.”
Morrison chairs the housing standing committee, which approved 1,000 units this week, but those aren't considered affordable units.
“We can't just build for one segment of the population. We need to look after everybody in the community,” said Morrison.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW How car thefts are impacting your insurance, even if your car isn't stolen
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
opinion Trump's Republicans falling far behind in fundraising, infrastructure
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, Washington political analyst Eric Ham explains how and why Republicans -- up and down the ballot -- are falling far behind Democrats in both fundraising and infrastructure.
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says US$18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
Minnesota beats Boston 3-0, wins inaugural Walter Cup as Professional Women's Hockey League champs
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.