Housing
5. So what are the issues f) First time home buyers can't get in the market g) Municipalities faced with high homeless rates When it comes to housing, the deck is stacked against those seeking accomodation. PM Carney knows this which is why instead of trying to find investors to build low cost housing by offering space to build and cost cuts, he wants back into building affordanle homes. Canada was successful in the 1940's doing just that. It's a different time. The government can enlist Prefab home builders to build low cost homes in municipalities paid for by government. Using the United Premiers group, to organize United Municipalities groups to identify the needs and locations, he can target people in need of homes, the type of home and qualify them under municipal housing authority, or first time buyers or disaster recovery. Municipalities can buy the homes from the government and rent them to homeless people and families or do rent to own. People experiencing fire or flood destroyed homes can be assisted with debris removal and new low cost replacement home. First time buyers get to buy their home GST free. In each case the government pays the bill and once the home is bought the government is paid back for cost plus infrastructure expenses. The owner must retain possession for at least 5 years then it can be sold and the market takes over. United Premiers Group: I would assemble the premiers and tell them you are prepared to build the homes on both crown land and public land. As Premiers they need to group the municipalities in to United municipal groups under their control or privy. Each UMG is to provide a breakdown of types of dwelling and quantity of each type needed to their Premier. As I understand it most municipalities have established departments like Calgary Housing Authority to provide for renters in need of homes. While often these dwellings are along the apartment building line they can also be condo or detached home lines more suited for families. In this role, the Federal government could extend partial funding as incentive for construction with the housing authority owning and managing the properties. The funding would be paid back over time. Controlled rent will benefit the people needing a place to stay. Dwellings of this type must conform to solar panel for electric relief, heat pumps for heating economy, and Instant electric hot water also for economy. Detached dwellings can be prefab for speed of deployment. Oh My GOD my house or neighborhood just burned down! Fort Mac-Murray, Jasper come to mind. In a disaster, people are displaced with the property in ruins. Here, the ruins must be removed as soon as damage assessment is complete. In most cases Insurances pay off the mortgages leaving the property owner to fight to rebuild. Here the federal government could extend funding to get the debris removed and facilitate displaced families with an option for the type of prefab home to be built there. I have noted a huge assortment of prefab homes ranging from 1 bedroom to 5 bedroom and 1 to 3 story dwellings. Dwellings of this type must conform to solar panel for electric relief, heat pumps for heating economy, and Instant electric hot water also for economy. The CMHC and banks come into play here as does the 1 Million $ GST relief on new home purchase. While these homes are low cost builds, they become market once sold. People that use this route must retain the home as primary residence for at least 5 years. The Federal government in this case is addressing debris removal and providing connecting home owners with resources of CHMC, banks, Prefab facilities. The displaced need a place to stay while their home is built. In the Fort Mac-Murray disaster many were put up in campgrounds using their RV’s or renting RV’s. Many empty nest’ers and elderly love the RV lifestyle. Small space to maintain, no property tax (campground owner pays), utilities included in lot rent, freedom to see this great country, and if you don’t like the neighbors you turn a key and take your home with you without having to pack up. I have lived this style for 18 years. I even looked after my mom for 15 years and she loved it. Okay so we have talked about people needing rental space, disaster management space, and freedom to travel space so it’s now time to up the real elephant in the room which is home ownership. People wanting to grow their family want to own homes that are affordable. The market fails this miserably since demand dictates price and out paces income for most. The Federal government want to see affordable homes built. Working together we can address entry level home buyers with affordable homes which they must retain for at least 5 years. They can be a variety of styles but must conform with energy efficiency like outlined above. The Federal government can use some crown land to augment Provincial land, Municipal land and help with infrastructure funding, and the building of homes. At this point, the low cost home is made available to first time home buyers only. No Market speculators or foreign investors will be allowed. After 5 or more years the home may be sold through the market and the former first time buyer can upgrade to another home. Home builders in the market are free to build upscale homes for sale at market price and realters function as normal. With inter-provincial trade barriers removed we can source material needs from our lumber Industry, With cross Canada trade certification we can both fill and train required workers. Infrastructure: All I can say on infrastructure is that beyond bridges, highways, roads which seem to be working, is that the government will listen to and address these issues as the premiers bring them up. Of note here is that provinces/territories and their municipalities must work with the Federal government to manage infrastructure for the homes being built. The infrastructure dollars are an important point with municipalities and these come along hand in hand with government homes built.