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p14 weekender january 31 1987 only lucky ones able to obtain affordable housing survey finds by deb bodine champion affordable housing for many people in york region has become about as easy and as likely as finding a four- leaf clover only a few lucky ones seem to be able to manage it the severe lack of affordable accommodation was the topic of dis cussion saturday at a conference sponsored by childrens services councils task force on adequate and affordable housing discussion centred around its re port published in march 1986 on hous ing needs in york region the report currently being reviewed by the re gions planning committee focusses on four areas of concern rental accommodation home ownership assisted and specialty housing anne johnston former alderman of metro toronto and keynote speaker at the conference spoke of the nimby syndrome meaning the not in my backyard attitude many community members take when the question of lowcost housing or assisted and spe cialty housing is discussed practical advice a 13year veteran of municipal poli tics ms johnston has actively de fended the rights of senior citizens handicapped and renters to the con ference participants she offered a message of hope and a great deal of practical advice she urged the group to form strong wellfinanced networks to get zoning bylaws changed to allow for more group homes seniors housing and low- cost rental units she encouraged in terested citizens to support concerned politicians even if it means holding your nose and supporting a political party that you arent born into supply short of demand according to statistics in the task forces report the population of york region increased by 81 per cent in 198485 while the housing stock in creased by only 63 per cent supply is just not meeting the demand said dave clarke of coffey and clarke realty ltd in newmarket the report also reveals that housing being built is suitable for middle to high income ear ners only proportionately less and less housing is within the range of the first time buyers it was suggested by conference panelist and social worker margaret osmond that if an adequate stock of entrylevel affordable housing was created it might solve some of the problems with rental accommodation and assisted housing when house prices escalate more affordable ren tal accommodation is required since fewer people are able to enter the homeownership market rental accommodation however is also in sufficient to meet the need in york re gion province has funds the spokesman for ontario housing corporation mr e bissinger ex plained that funds are available from the province for the creation of addi tional rental units within existing sing le family dwellings and also in non- residental buildings such as vacant schools warehouses and factories the converttorent program is not taken advantage of in york re gion said mr bissinger mr gord rowe regional councillor in rich mond hill told of a woman who re cently applied for funds under the program and was turned down by the municipal council because her neigh bours objected waiting list the york region housing authority currently has 213 families and 180 seniors on its waiting list for assisted housing according to sandy cole task force member and indirect service coordinator for the york south asso ciation for the mentally retarded york region does not have assisted housing units sufficient to meet the need the task force recommends through its report that municipalities adopt an asofright zoning policy to address hair salon new years special streaks 72 price long hair cut extra long hair cut extra total image jv beautiful place to be upper level near bank of commerce 4776522 markham location only not valid with any other discounts offer expires feb 2887 the need for more group homes and emergency shelters it also recom mends that more housing be built to accommodate the 10 per cent of the population with physical disabilities the lack of adequate and affordable housing in york region has far- reaching social implications accord ing to the beliefs of the task force members all of whom are social ser vice representatives more and more people are moving to the northern part of the region and out of the region altogether where prices are more moderate two income families are becoming essential to live in the re gion industry is flooding into the area yet there is evidence that suffi cient affordable housing is not being provided to service the new em ployees chairman of the task force sharron richards is pleased with the outcome of the conference a community com mittee has been formed to further edu cate the public regarding the housing needs in the region see page 22 markv1lle promenade woodbine pickering shopping cm centre centre townctr beside wootoo hvw 7 bathua beside the bay near eaton s markham thornhill rexdale pickering 4776494 8819690 6745649 8315605 showroom umeridge mall 230donbonst markham hamilton 4752910 3856232