David Alton
City/Township Council · Kitchener
Back to candidatesThis candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.
Housing & Homelessness
How should municipalities and the Region balance providing permanent housing with the management of encampments in public spaces?select up to 3 per part
A. Pathways to permanent housing
- Prioritize rapid acquisition or conversion of existing buildings
- Partner with non-profit and supportive housing providers
- Use publicly owned land for permanent or interim housing
B. Interim management of encampments
- Establish and maintain clear minimum standards (sanitation, safety, outreach)
- Allow temporary encampments to persist while permanent housing options are actively being developed
- Rather than just extreme weather shelters we just need year round low barrier shelters. Too many options are not set up to support people and end up winnowing people into supportlessness.
C. Accountability and collaboration between levels of government
- This question is confusing. It needs more context for what you are talking about. But I will say on the homelessness front the region has struggled to have functional project management due to hostile political interference especially from the big city mayors and the province.
Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to address both encampments and permanent housing.candidate's own words
Tripling supply of Kitchener Housing and Region of Waterloo Housing.
Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on housing?candidate's own words
I have a whole platform unpacking the right to housing that was co created with lived experts. You can read it on davidalton.org I also have a video unpacking how Canada's housing system functions as social apartheid.