CLICK HERE to see an example of a letter to federal MPs, which you should rewrite in your own words. Make appropriate adjustments to write to MPPs. (This is a PDF file. To get a Word file, please contact Bill Johnston directly at housing@uuhamilton.ca.)
CLICK HERE to find instructions and templates from the Affordable Housing Team to write to your MPs and MPPs to urge financial support for hard-pressed tenants during the COVID-19 crisis.
The case is simple. Almost half of all tenants in Hamilton (and 40 per cent across Canada) pay unaffordable rents. Tenants’ incomes are less than half that of owners. And that was before the crisis.
An emergency ban on evictions and income replacement programs help but don’t go far enough. The government has provided some interest relief for homeowners and significant subsidies for commercial tenants. Only British Columbia and Prince Edward Island have provided some relief for residential tenants. Ontario has said it’s willing. We need Ottawa to act, generously and quickly.
Please let us know if you send letters or emails and to whom, by emailing housing@uuhamilton.ca