The Peak’s publisher/editor was right last week when he said the issue of affordable housing is an emergency in Powell River [“Do the right thing,” August 17]. He was right again when calling for immediate action so those in desperate need of suitable housing can find it.
Last week’s cover story in the Peak [“Civic leaders seek housing answers,” August 17] included comments from a number of committed local leaders who all wish we had more data so we could target scarce resources to the best possible outcomes. That is an undeniably wise aspiration and one that could take a long time to realize.
In situations like this (affordable housing crisis, tied to child poverty crisis, tied to political decisions of provincial and federal governments over many years) our elected officials have the responsibility to take the considerable, if imperfect, information we have and then bear down and play god; deciding whose needs to meet with scarce resources.
With that in mind, all the expert research, combined with basic Canadian kindness, tells us that interrupting the cycle of intergenerational poverty is the best thing to do.
The most effective way to do that is to direct resources to lone parents living in poverty (almost all women) and ensure they have suitable housing and low-cost, high-quality, publicly funded childcare, among other basic requirements needed to rise out of poverty.
Can local governments come up with the resources to meet everyone’s needs? No, probably not. But can they come up with significant resources and make a profound difference in the lives of many? Yes, of course they can.
Here are three areas where much needed resources might be found, so we can begin to address the crisis.
First: Powell River Community Forest Fund is owned by City of Powell River and generates approximately $1 million in revenue annually. The city could write a new provision into the fund’s mandate so a dedicated percentage (50 per cent?) of annual revenue goes toward building affordable housing and other urgent initiatives for the region.
Second: Several years ago, Catalyst Paper Corporation negotiated preferential tax treatment for its Powell River operations. Catalyst and its current tax status are well worth reconsidering. Year-over-year foregone tax revenue amounts to millions of dollars; a lot of money in any community and an enormous amount if targeted to affordable housing and child poverty in Powell River.
Third: Taxes in Powell River are at the high end of the provincial average, while taxes in the regional district are near the bottom. Given that our community faces a real emergency, there is an important conversation to be had about addressing this imbalance and increasing revenue.
Every one per cent tax increase in Powell River yields approximately $150,000 in new revenue. In light of the severity of challenges facing the region, tax increases may well be necessary.
As in all cases where urgent community need calls for new approaches to mounting challenges, political will and community support will be required for meaningful progress to take place.
John Young moved to Powell River last year. He has an extensive background in social justice and public policy.
