N.B. releases housing strategy

A new housing strategy with a focus on cutting homelessness and increasing low-income units has been announced by the New Brunswick government.

The strategy will provide more affordable housing for the nearly 30,000 New Brunswickers who need it, government officials said Tuesday.

"It will mean renovating places that we can make affordable by putting their power bill down," said Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock. "And in some cases doing a better job of making sure we have fewer people who need housing in the first place."

Lamrock said that will involve improving foster care services, providing services for at-risk youth and increasing the minimum wage for working families.

The five-year plan is a response to a poverty reduction plan developed in 2009 with public consultation.

Critics say the announcement is just another promise as the provincial election draws near.

"Basically it's an election platform and we'll have to wait god knows how long after that for anything to be done," said Dan Weston of the Fredericton Anti-Poverty Organization.

Weston said the housing strategy does not go far enough and the poverty reduction plan has had little effect overall.

But other social advocates applauded the announcement, saying affordable housing is the first step to eliminating poverty.

"There's nobody going to make a step out of poverty unless adequate housing, affordable housing is part of their lives," said Brian Duplessis, executive director of United Way of Central New Brunswick.

Some poverty advocates said they were impressed with the strategy's target for a 10 per cent reduction in housing needs in five years.

"There aren't many other provinces across the country that are being bold and putting a number out like that. I think that speaks well to the commitment of the minister," said Gary Glauser of the New Brunswick Non-Profit Housing Association.

Lamrock said funding to carry outthe strategy will be announced in the next few weeks.