One out of every five households renting in Ontario is paying more than 50% of their income on rent. [10]
Rents in Ontario have risen at double the rate on inflation over the last decade. [11]
Across Ontario , youth under 18 and families with children are the fastest growing group of hostel users. [11]
In the last 20 years the number of affordable housing units created in Canada has fallen from 24,000 in 1980 to 940 in 2000. [12]
In 1990 the resources that were allocated to low-income housing were cut by $51 million over two years. [Begin P]

In Ottawa, rent increased by 25% from 1998 to 2001.[14]
In 2000, there were 3,500 economic evictions in the Ottawa area.[ Evans]
Average wait for subsidized housing in Ottawa is 5-8 years. There are approximately 13,500 households on this waiting list.[16]
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10. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Behind the issues: Ontario 2003. Investing in affordable homes. http://www.policyalternatives.ca
11. Campaign 2000, Report Card on Child Poverty in Ontario, 1999.
12. Canadian Council on Social Development. (2002). The Progress of Canada?s Children: 2002 Highlights. Available: www.ccsd.ca]
14. Stewart, Dick (People Services, City of Ottawa). Presentation. (September 10, 2002).
16. Evans, G., Wells, N., Moch, A. (In Press). Housing and Mental Health: A review of the evidence and a methodological and conceptual critique.