Mayor’s ambitious poverty plan passes first test

Fred Eisenberger’s $50 million plan for poverty reduction and affordable housing is moving forward.

The mayor’s motion passed 11-2 at today’s General Issues Committee meeting. Councillors Donna Skelly and Lloyd Ferguson were the opposing votes.

Eisenberger’s plan has been well received by residents and groups across the city, though Skelly and Ferguson raise concerns over lack of details included in the proposal.

The motion lays out spending $20 million on increasing and improving affordable housing from the Hamilton Future Fund, an already existing reserve fund created in 2002 with the sale of Hamilton Hydro. The motion also calls for $3 million a year over the next 10 years to be spent on poverty reduction. That money would come from the merger of Horizon Utilities.

Eisenberger’s proposal calls for City staff to develop a “10 year integrated poverty reduction plan” that would include various community partners and stakeholders from health, education, housing, employment, as well as those who have lived in poverty.

Councillor Chad Collins seconded the mayor’s motion. The motion now goes to city council for further discussion and a vote.

More to come.