Click here to read the full report
Tenants and housing advocates who call for effective rent regulation face strong opposition. The real estate industry uses simplistic explanations and outdated research to spread myths about rent controls. For ideological reasons, and often without having ever studied the topic, many economists and housing policy analysts further promote these myths. The result is a system of disinformation that has considerable power to influence legislators.
Housing and homelessness
OTTAWA—Giant loopholes in Ontario’s rent control system mean tenants are paying average rent increases that are three times those allowed under the provincial rent increase guideline, a new report from the Ontario office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) shows.
Despite years of advocacy by Manitoba’s Right to Housing Coalition urging government to increase the supply of social housing, politicians seem convinced that the social housing crisis is an unsolvable problem that can only be tinkered with using private-sector participation, whether it be to construct new units or maintain and operate existing units. But the private sector itself acknowledges deeply affordable housing is a public good that it cannot provide.
Previously published in the Winnipeg Free Press January 29, 2024
The NDP government recently announced its plans to scale back the previousgovernment’s promise to expand social housing by adding 700 units this fiscal year. Instead, it will focus on providing up to 250 rental units with supports, for people currently unhoused.
The Right to Housing Coalition has put forward a social housing action plan for Manitoba that pulls together solutions based on decades of research and consultation. The coalition is calling on all political parties in the 2023 provincial election to commit to implementing a social housing action plan that features the following five key pillars:
Ricardo Tranjan, author of The Tenant Class, joins us for a community conversation with local housing activists Rebecca Hume (Together at 149 Langside), Yutaka Dirks (R2H Coalition) and moderator Stefan Hodges (West Broadway Tenants Committee).
In celebration of the event, Ricardo spoke with Amanda Emms, community researcher and WBTC member. Their conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Previously pubished in the Winnipeg Free Press October 11, 2023
Although the housing crisis is increasingly becoming a federal political issue, it is getting very little attention in our provincial election. The Right to Housing (R2H) Coalition’s recent report explains the need for the provincial government to increase its role in the provision of social housing, defined as non-market housing where rents are no more than 30% of household income, or at social assistance rates where applicable.
Previouly published in the Winnipeg Free Press September 26, 2023
Click here to read the full report online.