Affordable housing and homelessness are important social issues in New Westminster. About half of the city's housing stock is rental and it is dwindling. The city also has a large homeless population but not enough services, shelters or housing to support them.

So this week we asked candidates running in the New Westminster-Coquitlam by-election: Do you see the need for a federal housing strategy?

Here's how they responded.

Rebecca Helps,

Green Party

(www.nwcgreens.ca)

Yes, we need a national housing strategy that is developed with the support of all three levels of government. We need an actual strategy that will end and prevent homelessness.

I like the Portland housing first model—get people off the streets and into housing, not into shelters. The Green Party also supports a guaranteed livable income which would provide people with the resources they need to maintain their housing and prevent them from being left homeless.

Most importantly, we need more housing stock and a housing strategy which is fair and encourages people to become self sufficient. Ensuring affordable housing requires that all three levels of government work together.

For example, when new developments are approved by a city they can ensure there's a certain percentage is rental housing, which is owned either by the government or a developer.

The goal is to ensure our cities provide a mix of housing options. The provincial and federal government can provide funding incentives to ensure the rental units are built and can be rented at an affordable price.

Diana Dilworth,

Conservatives

(www.dianadilworth.ca)

Yes there is a need for a federal housing strategy.

Fortunately I belong to a party that not only has one, we are actively pursuing it.

The Conservative Party is currently consulting with all levels of government and listening to local communities and organizations to identify priorities, needs and find effective long-term solutions to homelessness.

We have renewed the Homeless Partnering Strategy spending $390 million per year, $1.9 billion over five years.

Our Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for renovation and construction of affordable housing and we are currently invested in over 1,000 homeless projects across Canada.

As a Port Moody city councillor, I chaired the task force that worked to develop regulations to ensure that safe, affordable housing was available. I was a champion for the 94-unit Inlet Centre affordable housing complex that provides housing for families, seniors and single women.

And I chaired the city's committee that reviewed and made recommendations related to both the Metro Vancouver Housing Strategy and the federal government.

I have a proven track record in this area and more importantly a record of achieving real results.

With a seat in the government caucus, I will be able to ensure that the needs of providing the services and shelters to support the homeless in New Westminster-Coquitlam are heard and met.

Ken Beck Lee,

Liberal Party

(www.kenlee.ca)

Affordable housing and homelessness are important socio-economic issues in every community. There are far too many people without shelter and services, and the large homeless population has very little resources at their disposal.

It is embarrassing that Canada is currently the only developed nation that does not have a federal housing strategy in place. The national government needs to work with local communities to guarantee that all Canadians have adequate housing.

We need to work efficiently to build a strategy with goals, timetables and stable long-term funding.

Fin Donnelly, NDP

(www.findonnelly.ca)

New Democrats are leading the charge for a national housing strategy.

And I’m proud to say that our proposal for a national housing strategy passed second reading in the House of Commons in late September.

As your Member of Parliament, I will do my utmost to ensure the bill becomes law. This plan will reverse years of deep cuts to affordable housing programs under successive Conservative and Liberal governments.

Ever since the federal government eliminated Canada’s affordable housing program in the mid-1990s, we’ve seen huge increases in homelessness in every community in the country.

In the past three years we’ve seen homelessness double in New Westminster and triple in the Tri-Cities.

On Coquitlam City Council I made affordable housing a top priority and I worked hard on updating our affordable housing strategy.

But municipalities cannot fight homelessness on their own. It’s a disgrace that Canada is the only country in the G8 that does not have a national plan to build affordable housing. We need a national housing strategy and that’s what I’ll fight for as your MP.

mmcquillan@newwestnewsleader.com

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