Shared Space - Chapter 4 - Supporting Sustenance
As part of the shared space, knowing, doing and reviewing are key elements.
Safe and clean human habitats comprise the foundation of well being," and are a global social objective based on the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 200 , the Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements in 1996 , and Agenda 21 in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in 1992 . Statistics show a lack of proper food, shelter, and clothing in Canada , lead ing to health , social and economic problems.
3.5 million Canadians have low income and are likely to remain poor for longer periods,in particular groups such as women , Aboriginal Canadians , young single people, recent immigrants and people with disabilities. Canada 's income gap has grown to a 30 year high, according to a study comparing the late 1970s to early 2000s . Urban Poverty in Canada , found a disproportionate number of poor live in met ropolitan areas, and Poverty by Postal Code , published in 2004 found substantial rises in poverty in the last 20 years in Toronto.
Community infrastructure and individual capacity are used to address basic sustenance needs. The private sector , government and communities are involved in providing sustenance.
The government has committed itself to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights , however the 1989 House of Commons resolution to eliminate poverty by 2000 was not largely successful .
Quebec government has enacted anti-poverty legislation with Bill 112 's National Strategy to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion , with reporting every three years. Interventions include promotion of school success and social integration, basic education and access to continuing education , and volunteer and community actions. Montreal declared a Montreal Charter of Rights and Responsibilities , with obligations for government actors. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador released Reducing Poverty: An Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador in June 2006 , which calls for a long term plan.
Government can intervene by investing in the supply of amenities, support ing entities such as developers willing to build affordable housing , and providing land or land trusts to muncipalities and nonprofit corporations. Rehabilitation of land, policies, incentive s and tax credits can also be used, as well as focusing on setting good wage conditions, government benefit programs , and lower the cost of basics such as utilities and transportation for affected groups.
Communities are involved in activities such as food banks and shelters. Habitat for Humanity and the World Vision Canada Aboriginal Council provide aid in constructing housing .
Non profit or social housing are often confronted with ' not in my backyard ' syndrome, which can be countered by levering financial capital for community economic development .
Local governance can focus on complex, long term plans, whereas communities must focus tactically due to lack of resources while using created governance. Coordination mechanisms, and comprehensive community initiatives, that encourage collaboration within integrated clusters of actions, government and the private sector , are required.
In creating new stock, collaborative work such as the Quality of Life CHALLENGE in BC linked federal, provincial, municipal government , institutions and community groups with the Housing Affordability Partnership . The flow of capital was coordinated, and housing trust fund s set up. Total fund s leverage 14 times the amount from provincial and federal government . By-law was influence d to join up work, create linkages and scale up efforts.
A 2004 Canadian Housing Framework proposal was collaborative ly developed by six Saint John business and volunteer sector representatives, lead by the Mayor, non profits and other local stakeholder s. The results exceeded what individual proposals would likely have accomplished.
Service coordination is can be used to coordinate support s and services, especially for seniors and persons with disabilities. Communities can ease and coordinate assistance. Efforts to reduce costs can result in more realistic billing structures, as well as increased engage ment.
Between clusters, adaptation, engage ment and opportunity can be combined with sustenance to provide access to health y resources such as cooking classes, engage with helpful groups such as art ists, and opportunities in training and community run business es.
Higher wages and benefits , including knowledge about existing benefits, are also encouraged or enforced through policy, community and government intervention .
Monitoring progress around quality of life is growing, with many indicator initiatives, including the UK's 15 Headline Sustainability Indicators and Sustainable Seattle . BC 's Quality of Life CHALLENGE provide s information to the community through indicators , where possible consistent with the Quality of Life Monitoring System developed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities . This enables comparing progress.
The first Quality of Life Indicators report in 1999 provide d a baseline for population, community , affordability, housing , workforce, health , community safety and participation; in 2005 charts changes and expands scope. This provide s a sense of the current status and changing profile , and a base for exploring data. The data provided a contradictory picture , reflecting a need to revise the knowledge base and monitoring progress.