Sure that sounds good to me!

I know some people are turned off by the word affordable, but I think it also depends on what the context is. I think we need to be clear about what we want to create, which is not just more housing. Using "diverse" still does not address the issue of affordability directly. A lot of developers use the "term" diverse and this can be interpreted any number of ways, but not necessarily as including anything for lower income households. What I really want is a diverse range of affordable housing options, that is where I want the diversity to be. That would cover shelters to home ownership, cooperatives to non-profits, transitional to permanent.

My edits are contained within IN CAPS OR IN DELETIONS AND COMMENTS

CHAI's Holiday Wish List

The 1% solution where A MINIMUM OF 1% of all public budgets be dedicated to AFFORDABLE housing (I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOT JUST ANY HOUSING, THAT GETS BUILT ANYWAYS AND MAKES PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY)

A 5 % tax increase FOR the top 20% OF THE POPULATION to meet the social and economic needs of the WIDER community

A Guaranteed living income for everyone (ISN'T THIS WHAT WELFARE IS SUPPOSED TO BE? HOW WOULD THIS BE DIFFERENT? PERHAPS WORD IT DIFFERENTLY TO MAKE THIS CLEAR? IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE CLEAR HOW THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS WISH.

Turn those frowns upside down, an end to NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) and the rise of YIMBY (YES IN MY BACKYARD).

Safe, unused land (private and public) within the City of Calgary be donated OR LEASED for the development of diverse AFFORDABLE housing options (I TOOK OUT REQUIRING THIS BY LAW BECAUSE A LOT OF LAND SITS UNUSED FOR GOOD REASONS, SO LET'S JUST LEAVE IT OPEN AS A WISH THAT IT BE DONATED.

Land trust drive, people giving extra land just like theIR extra non-perishables

Bailiffs out of work, because Landlords and tenants are working together

A Government who (???)

JENNIFER

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Contact your elected official and/or the elected officials in charge of policy and funding for housing. Let them know your concerns. Don't forget to cc the opposition parties and other interested groups. For a list of elected officials and their contact info see http://housingaction.ca/action/government

Perhaps the greatest obstacle to creating diverse housing options in our communities is NIMBY or "Not In My Backyard." This is opposition by citizens to proposed housing developments in their community. We have witnessed this lately in Calgary with opposition to the halfway house in Connaught and the Brick shelter in Crescent Heights. The reasons for this opposition are varied and include concerns about: increased traffic, blocking of the view, blocking of light, noise, crime, litter, decrease in property values, aesthetics, etc.

Why do we always focus on the possible negative consequences of affordable housing? What about the benefits to our communities and to our society of having diverse communities and diverse housing options? One of the reasons I like my community so much is the fact that people of many different incomes live here, and I get to live and interact with all of them instead of only one specific group. This is great because it gives us a chance to see how other people live, learn from them, and have a more realistic perspective on life. Everyone fits in and no one stands out as being different.

Another benefit is that there is housing for everyone and people do not have to commute long distances to work if they don't want to. Often communities have a need for people to do a jobs with varying levels of pay. If people with lower incomes need to commute long distances to work in your community, it may be very difficult to find people to work in these jobs.

Affordable housing also means higher density housing. This is usually better for the environment because less land is needed, fewer materials are required to build and furnish it, less energy is required to operate it. It can also reduce car traffic and the green house gases this creates. Higher density housing can also mean stronger relationships between neighbours, sharing of labour and resources, and safer neighbourhoods. This was the case in a housing cooperative I visited recently.

Having diverse housing options within the same community enables people to find the home that is appropriate for them. When their family size expands or contracts, if their income goes up or down, or if they have special needs or wishes to fill, they can find a more suitable home and stay in the same community. It also means that relatives or friends with different incomes can choose to live near each other.

And of course there is the reason that all people need and have the right to adequate shelter, and if not beside you, then where? If we all say no, what will be the consequences for our society and our world?

I'm sure there are many other benefits to having diverse housing options within the same community. How many can you think of???