Council upends waitlist policy that prioritized high acuity homeless and out-of-towners for RGI housing
A waitlist policy that prioritized homeless and high-needs individuals for deeply discounted public housing may have done more harm than good.
On Tuesday, council adjusted its Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) Waitlist Placement Ratio to favour local applicants and households who have been waiting for the longest period of time.
Enacted in 2005, the local rule required RGI housing providers to ensure that 90 per cent of placements be from households in the urgent category and only 10 per cent from the chronological list based on the order people applied.
Several RGI housing providers including London Middlesex Community Housing (LMCH) had expressed concerns that the 90-10 housing ratio often resulted in unstable tenants in need of social supports.
The result was often greater damage to units, guest management issues, higher eviction rates, and instability for neighbours.
“We need to move away from the revolving door of constant repairs because we have individuals who are not able to sustain their housing,” Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis told council colleagues.
Council voted to temporarily swing the ratio in favour of the chronological list.
“Eighty per cent of the residents will be coming from the chronological list and 20 percent will be from the urgent priority list,” explained Lewis.
People can been deemed eligible for Urgent Medical, Urgent Social or Urgent Homeless Status.
City staff assured council that high acuity individuals will be more successful in housing with wraparound supports— rather than RGI housing that’s based on their income.
“Those that require additional support, we continue on a regular basis to match them to a number of housing first programs,” explained Kevin Dickins, deputy city manager of social and health development.
Council’s decision also closes the door to out-of-town applicants seeking urgent status.
The changes require households/individuals seeking urgent status on the RGI waitlist to have lived in London or Middlesex County for at least nine months — except when relocation is required to accommodate medical treatment.
“You can no longer get off a bus from another community, register here because you’re homeless, and get on the urgent list,” said Lewis.
A staff report read, “Urgent Medical, Urgent Social, and Urgent Homeless status applications from outside of London-Middlesex make up 28 per cent of the 1,610 households on the RGI waitlist.”
The deputy mayor adding, “People are coming from outside of our community and getting housing because they can claim urgent status because they are homeless. We’re saying not anymore.”
Civic administration will report back on the findings of a comprehensive RGI Waitlist Review next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.