Minister's comments about housing that hasn't been built go beyond misspeaking, says advocate

An advocate for housing in Newfoundland and Labrador says the language used by Housing Minister Paul Pike surroundinghundreds of homes that haven't actually been built goes beyond misspeaking.

Dan Meades,co-ordinator of transition houses in Newfoundland and Labrador, says the provincial government has helped cause the crisis with poor policy decisions.

"I wish I could say that I was surprised. I mean those of us that do this work know that there hasn't been 750 homes built in the last two years," Meades said Friday.

"Even if all those 750 units had been built in the last two years, and the 850 that they're talking about in the next year,even if those all came onlinewe'd still have a thousand people on the waiting list. So something's got to be done, and it's got to be done urgently."

Meades's comments were in response toPike tellingCBC News earlier this month that 750 homes have been built across the province in the last two years.

According to data from the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, the actual number of completed social housing units ready for occupancy is 11. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Pike said he misspokeandintended to refer to 750 new housing options.

Meades saysPike's comments go beyond misspeaking.

"It seems like there's just a misunderstanding of exactly what the housing continuum needs to be in the province," Meades said.

"It does make me think that it would be perfectly reasonable to build 750 homes this year in every community in the province, and I certainly hope this government starts to do that."

WATCH | This housing advocate says he and others have been begging for help for years for a housing crisis that has already existed:

Housing advocates say theyve been begging for governments help for years

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Dan Meades, provincial co-ordinator with the Transition House Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, says he and others have been sounding the alarm for years about a housing crisis. He takes issue with the provincial minister responsible for housing, Paul Pike, questioning who could have seen the issue reaching a breaking point saying everybody could have predicted it.

'Everybody could have predicted this'

Meades also took exception to comments Pike made Thursdaywhen he was asked about the housing crisis.

"Who could have predicted this housing crisis a few years ago?" Pike said.

According to Meades, just about anyone paying attention.

"Everybody could have predicted this housing crisis a few years ago," Meades said.

"Our transition houses have been full for months and years on end, and the shelter beds in this province have been full for months and years on end. There is no secret that there is a housing crisis.

"It's nice that the government of Newfoundland and Labrador now agrees that there's a housing crisis, but those of us that do this work every single day have known it for years and have been telling them for years."

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