WARD 8 HOPEFULS FOCUS ON HOUSING

Ward 8 candidates have floated tiny homes and converted buildings as possible solutions to address Hamilton's burgeoning housing crisis.

At a recent televised debate presented by Cable 14 and The Hamilton Spectator, all five council hopefuls agreed that more needs to be done to get unhoused folks and young families into permanent, affordable housing. Last month, nearly 1,500 people were using shelters or similar services in Hamilton, while thousands more languished on a wait list for subsidized units.

At the same time, the average price of a home on the Hamilton Mountain was $745,741 in August. And the cost of rent continued to skyrocket, with twobedroom apartments now costing an average of $2,167 a month.

Sonia Brown said the city needs to "think out of the box" when it comes to creating new housing opportunities, pointing to the potential conversion of buildings left vacant during the pandemic.

"I have spoken to a couple of pastors that are not opening their doors, so we have some churches that are available," said Brown, proposing they could be purchased and modified into deeply affordable units for the homeless.

Daniel Veltri proposed allowing residents to build tiny homes in backyards of existing properties, while also noting that permit approvals for new builds need to be expedited.

Incumbent John-Paul Danko defended the work of the current council, touting increased inclusionary zoning, a rental housing licensing pilot program, a proposed bylaw to regulate short-term rentals and the development of "familyfriendly" housing policies.

"Housing affordability is a complex problem," said Danko. "We are using every lever available to us."

Joshua Czerniga lamented the dismantling of encampments in city parks and said the city needs a "better plan" for housing people moving forward. And Anthony Frisina said one homeless person is "one homeless person too many" in the city, pointing to the need for the community to work together to eradicate the issue.

The Ward 8 contenders also debated road safety, support for survivors of sexual violence, council decorum, vaccine mandates and transit improvements.