Places Group

Through their municipalities, NOSDA Service Managers fund, administer and provide a range of programs and services that make Ontario’s communities physically, socially and economically healthy places to live.  The range of funding, programs and legislation Service Managers have to work with often conflict or do not work well together to achieve better results for the money being spent or for the people being served. 

In particular NOSDA Service Managers see the results of not investing in housing and community services, most notably the increased pressure on other social and health services and programs.

This paper explores the need for better ways of investing in all aspects of the housing system to support the role that housing plays in our society. Investments in housing and community services are usually much more cost-effective than funding more emergency services or institutions.

An integrated approach to policy and programs would ensure that investments are made in the right places rather than just where programs or legislation require. In Northern Ontario, geography and resource economies greatly influence demand for housing. Greater local flexibility in addressing those demands is needed to ensure appropriate, timely and viable responses to housing needs.

The project was completed Spring 2009.

>>More information is available from NOSDA

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