Let’s see, the left-coast cities all have rent-control. They all have have anti-sprawl policies. They are all “sanctuary cities”.
None of these things have anything to do with homelessness, I’m sure.
Let’s see, the left-coast cities all have rent-control. They all have have anti-sprawl policies. They are all “sanctuary cities”.
None of these things have anything to do with homelessness, I’m sure.
Toronto has had a housing crisis for as long as I can remember… but none of the feel good policies that the government come up with have anything to do with it.
after all, why would any builder decide that building rental apartment buildings with a return spread over 20 years, would be a good plan, when you can get a better return on condos in under 5, and you aren’t going to get hammered by idiocy like rent control
I agree interventionist policies like rent controls and minimum wage laws create almost as much poverty as the tax system.
But here in Victoria, the moderate climate attracts many homeless, along with a generous social welfare system.
Hey, I have a great idea. Why not have the government build endless walls, block after block, of soul-less high rise apartment buildings with subsidized rent. It’s worked so well in other cities around the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_planning_in_communist_countries
I’d be willing to bet the two biggest drivers of homelessness on the Left Coast are generous welfare (so they can get “some” money), and a climate mild enough to actually live outdoors throughout the year.
– Of course, the ‘waaay out-of-control cost of living is a major stumbling-block as well.
As Swedish economist Assar Lindbeck famously stated, “In many cases rent control appears to be the most efficient technique presently known to destroy a city—except for bombing.”
The government should get out of the housing business and let the private sector solve the problem.
Take all of the money spent on public housing and return it to real estate entrepreneurs. Make the first $50,000 in rental income tax free. Allow rental properties to be depreciated at 20% annually, instead of the current 4%.
If the government dared to take these steps, you would see such an explosion in new rental property construction and conversions, the homeless and low vacancy problem would be solved in 5 years.
But it will never happen. The present system will endure because, as Glenn Reynolds opined, there are more opportunities for graft.
In NYC Ed Koch lived in a rent controlled apt his whole life. Charlie Rangel had 4 of them. Rent control has nothing to do with being poor and in nyC appears to be a perk.
I’m surprised none of our socialist governments have thought of it yet. These type of buildings have always been a part of the Green party platform, the part the media never mentions.
I assume our new NDP bunch in Victoria will come around to this after they have several embarrassing situations with homeless people camping in parks or maybe the Legislature grounds,where they should be.
Your comment reminds me of the standing joke in Warsaw:
Q: “Where can I get the best view of Warsaw?”
A: “From atop the Ministry of Culture and Science building”
Q: “Why is that?”
A: “Because it is the one place in Warsaw where you cannot see the Ministry of Culture and Science building.”
Absolutely Shamrock. The dearth of street grub bites and zombies is directly attributable to an overly codepency on the generous welfare programs in Vic. Our Place is the biggest offender. Sure, they feed the street grubbiness and help with those on the extreme that should be in a mental health facility instead. And that’s where the vast majority of street people should be, and would be 30 years ago. Now, apparently it’s cruel to do that, better to let them grub outside 24/7.
The City is complicit too, with a far left commie council. They are complicit in exacerbating the problem, it will never be solved by enabling the problem.
As for the “teachers, plumbers, workers” being the homeless crowd, that’s just Leftwing memes. It’s not the truth. Anyone with half a brain cell will move to where they can afford to live AND work
Don
Victoria (city) has been busy buying old motels and buildings and converting them to various types of social housing at great expense.
What do you think will happen putting street people into a building, where they are still allowed to party away, have their addicted friends over to do whatever, even with paid poverty pimps to “monitor” the situation? This has been the strategy of the dim witted activist council.
Cuz street people are exactly like you and me……………apparently it’s just a fluke that we aren’t homeless too.
Well, if our governments and enviro organizations weren’t destroying resource industries, then our coastal and interior towns would be doing better, with more jobs available at a lower cost of living there. But no, save the trees, save the rocks, save the goo.
Why do you think the cost of living is high in the big cities? Demand, cuz it’s where the jobs are, largely dependent on the building/condo sector. Will Moron And Socksy raise interest rates and kill that industry too? Time will tell……..
Follow the money. Government building public housing sends the money through ‘local’ authorities controlled by their lefty supporters. You know the ones that must fly off to Paris to study the problem.
http://nationalpost.com/news/politics/b-c-new-democrat-repays-35000-to-non-profit-group-for-lavish-trips-cited-in-audits
“And the wealthy companies that have driven up living costs in these cities have not been quick to offer solutions of their own.” So now if you’re an employer that pays its employees well, and thereby drives up the cost of living because people are wealthier, you’re part of the problem and should atone for it.
It’s amazing how the leftist twits can miss the point each and every time.
Justin Socks and his gang are talking of a national housing strategy. More money down the drain.
Bombing can have the effect of making the inhabitants feel a sense of common interest and inspire them to look out for each other and work together. I haven’t noticed that being reported for rent control.
Red Deer Alberta declared they would stamp out homelessness in 2014. They initiated a 5 year plan. I was in RD yesterday and noticed a few things….
They better double down on the effort or they might not git r done.
The housing crisis in CA is another manifestation of the “haves and barely-have” CA economy. Only the VERY wealthy can afford a home (or condo) in CA. The average Californian can’t afford the MASSIVE $$$PRICE$$$ (caused by demand outstripping supply), can’t afford the outrageously steep property taxes, huge government permit fees, outrageous regulations, and dumbfounding utility costs.
https://www.ebmud.com/customers/new-meter-installation/new-water-service-costs-defined/system-capacity-charge/
That’s right. It costs $ 64,750.00 for the average NEW residential water meter “capacity charge” for a 1” meter (necessary minimum size for house, fire sprinklers, and irrigation. That’s JUST the capacity charge. That’s just a paper charge … it’s another $25,000.00 for the actual meter inistallation charge.
And yet … the IDIOT politicians in this State keep wringing their hands in dull surprise at the cost and scarcity of housing. What a bunch of IDGIOTS … or worse … just plain EVIL. The State is creating the “have and barely-have” economic divide … the Marxists in the State Government are making our State unaffordable for all the foreign nationals it keeps welcoming into our State.
Yeah, I’m sure west coast homelessness has nothing to do with the callous one-way bus ticket approach of the inland provinces to the plight of the unemployed / mentally-ill / unwanted.
(big old /s)
Outa sight, outa mind, right?
Yes, we have seen them many times. They are beautiful monuments to the utopian promise of Marxism. No doubt they will do it right next times.
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark thinks suburbs and driving are evil and more downtown high rises should be encouraged. Stalin agreed, people should be able to walk to work.
I own some stock in a company that provides ‘Atco’ type modular housing for the oil field crews. Prior to 2014 the stock did extremely well, but plummeted and has never recovered since.
I wrote to ‘investor relations’ asking if they had approached municipal governments to see if there might be a market for their idle inventory – after all, if it’s good enough for oil crews making big bucks, it should be adequate for the homeless making taxbucks.
Their response was nebulous to say the least. Not sure if they’re concerned about the ‘wear and tear’ a new clientele might present or if the government’s insist that their big buck union employees would have to do all the care and maintenance that’s undoubtedly part of the typical service contract.