Quick Facts about Housing in Halton

• Just 63 units of purpose-built rental housing (three or more units) of any kind have been built over the last 8 years.
• The supply of rental housing as a percentage of total stock has decreased from 25% in 1996 to 21% in 2001.
• Halton Region projected the need (Assisted Housing Survey, 2000) for government assisted housing to be 14,350 additional units over ten years.
• The overall vacancy rate in Halton in 2004 was 2.0 percent meaning 20 out of every 1,000 units were available for rent (a rate of at least 3 percent is considered a healthy, competitive market).
• In 2004, 40% of renters paid more than 30% of household income on shelter, 16% of those paid more than 50%.
• Average market rent in 2004 for a 3+ bedroom apartment was $1,157 per month.
• Depending on location, wait lists for social housing can be 3 to 5 years for families and much longer for seniors (low turnover) and singles (extremely small supply).
• HCHC currently houses approximately 3,200 individuals with the majority of households, approximately 1,220, consisting of one and two people (primarily due to the fact that seniors housing represents the majority of units in the portfolio).
• As of November 1, 2004, there were 1702 eligible applications (representing 3950 individuals) on Halton’s centralized housing wait list.
• There are only 10 emergency beds for young people 16 - 18 years of age and 15 beds for single adults (male and female), located at the Salvation Army Halton Lighthouse located in Oakville.
• Five transitional units, in a shared living arrangement, and seven apartments for families are funded through the Region’s Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) federal funding until March 2006.  SCPI also supports transitional housing for 10 individuals with serious mental illness in Burlington and Oakville.

Halton Income Facts

• In 1996, 9.3% of people in Halton lived in poverty, 7.1% (26,641) in 2001.
• Two adults working at minimum wage earn approximately $2,325 a month or $27,885 per year.  At 30% of income, they could afford a two-bedroom apartment at $697 per month (average Halton rent in 2003 was $986 for a two bedroom unit).
• A family of four on social assistance receives $1,694.54 per month in assistance and tax credits including a maximum OW shelter allowance of $951.58.  At 30% of income they could in fact only afford an apartment at $508 per month.
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Minimum Basic Cost of Living for a Family of Four in Halton

• The cost of housing a family of four is approximately $1,154 per month.
• The cost of feeding a family of four is $487 per month.
• For a family of four on social assistance this leaves $53.63 per month for other basic expenses (child care, clothing, transportation) let alone discretionary spending.

Halton Region offers assistance, much of which can be accessed online at:  http://www.region.halton.on.ca/scs/Housing
These services include:

Housing Help Centre
Halton Region’s HHC provides assistance to people seeking more affordable rental housing in Halton. 

Emergency Shelter
Halton Region refers homeless individuals to the Lighthouse Shelter, operated by the Oakville Salvation Army, which can accommodate up to 25 single men and women and youth, ages 16 -17.  Victims of domestic violence are referred to Halton Women’s Place in Burlington (30 beds) or Milton (20 beds).  Families are housed in five transitional housing units across the Region or in motels. http://www.salvationarmyoakville.ca/shelter.htm

Other Programs to Alleviate Homelessness in Halton
Halton Region administers a Rent Bank and a fund to assist with utility costs to help people maintain their rental housing.

Other Resources

• Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association
  ONPHA gives non profit-housing tools to do the best possible job. ONPHA offers a comprehensive list of programs and services. We are advocates for our members with all members of government; we deliver courses, workshops and resources for volunteer boards, staff and tenants; help members save money through our Best Deals program; work toward building networks locally and provincially to ensure that non-profit housing has a respected voice in the community; and we fight to get more new affordable housing built in Ontario.
  http://www.onpha.on.ca/affordable_housing_initiatives
  

• Shared Learnings on Homelessness, a project by Raising the Roof
  Practical tools, resources and information sharing for frontline staff, managers and volunteers working to address the problem of homelessness in their communities. Use this site to find out about initiatives in cities, towns and rural areas across Canada. Link to others working within the homelessness sector, share your experiences and learn from theirs.
  Shared Learnings on Homelessness