FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE: Funding Announcement Makes Clear Transit Not a Priority for Sutcliffe, Says Horizon Ottawa
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE: Horizon Ottawa Submits Petition with Over 2,500 Signatures Calling for City to Double Affordable Housing Budget
Horizon Ottawa Submits Petition with Over 2,500 Signatures Calling for City to Double Affordable Housing Budget
OTTAWA - Horizon Ottawa has officially submitted its petition to double the City of Ottawa’s affordable housing budget to the City Clerk. The petition is asking city council to raise the current $16 million budget to $40 million, the same amount of money it spends on maintaining temporary shelters.
The petition campaign was launched earlier this Summer and included a campaign launch supported by multiple organizations and individuals including Ottawa ACORN, Overdose Prevention Ottawa, Ottawa Transit Riders, the Rideau Student Union and City Councillor Ariel Troster.
Since then, not only has Horizon Ottawa garnered over 2,500 signatures but volunteers knocked on over ten thousand doors from Kanata to Orleans to achieve that goal. The petition has garnered a lot of support from residents from all corners of the city. It also saw the mobilization of over 150 volunteers.
“Our petition today proves that there is very broad support for increasing the portion the city spends on affordable housing from all corners of this city,” said Sam Hersh, Coordinator for Horizon Ottawa. “We are in a housing crisis and residents know that the city can spend more on this. They want it to be a priority.”
The current proposed budget for affordable housing presented at the November 8th budget tabling would see the affordable housing budget rise marginally from $16 million to $21 million. Horizon Ottawa says this is not enough especially for one of the most pressing crises that the city is facing.
“With the proposed budget, the money geared towards affordable housing is just a drop in the bucket while we are spending upwards of tens of millions to widen roads for example.” Said Hersh. “We know the city has the resources but this petition demonstrates that residents want the city to have the correct priorities as well.”
-30-
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Sam Hersh
613-663-7018
[email protected]
