97 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
97 lines
4.4 KiB
Markdown
# Housing Freedom
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!!! quote "Landlord Wisdom"
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"Let's pull ourselves up by our bootstraps! (Just not in my rental property)"
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[Call Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services](tel:7806436210){ .md-button }
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[Email Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/seniors-housing){ .md-button }
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[Call Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services](tel:7806445255){ .md-button }
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[Email Minister of Children and Family Services](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/family-housing){ .md-button }
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## Why Should Housing Be Free?
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Because living in our trucks might be a lifestyle choice for some, but it shouldn't be our only option. Wild concept: maybe having a roof over our heads shouldn't require sacrificing our firstborns to the mortgage gods.
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### Our Current "Freedom" System
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!!! example "The Alberta Housing Dream"
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1. We work 3 jobs
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2. We save for 20 years
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3. We watch housing prices triple
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4. We consider moving to Saskatchewan
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5. We realize that's too desperate
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6. We keep renting forever
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## What Real Housing Freedom Looks Like
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- Basic housing as our human right (yes, even for people we don't like)
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- Quality construction (walls shouldn't be optional)
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- Reasonable space (more than just room for our Flames jersey collections)
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- Safe neighborhoods (and not just in the suburbs)
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- Utilities included (because frozen Albertans aren't free Albertans)
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### But What About Property Rights?!
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!!! info "Plot Twist"
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Nobody's saying we can't own property. We're just suggesting that maybe housing shouldn't be treated like Pokemon cards - you know, gotta catch 'em all while others have none.
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## The Economic Freedom Argument
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When we have stable housing, we:
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- Keep our jobs better
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- Stay healthier
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- Contribute more to our community
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- Buy more local truck accessories
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### What We're Missing
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- Affordable housing that doesn't require a PhD in extreme couponing
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- Reasonable rent prices (our landlords don't need third vacation homes)
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- Housing first programs that work
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- Communities built for people, not just profits
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!!! tip "Pro Freedom Tip"
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If we think free basic housing is radical, remember: we already have public roads, schools, and healthcare. Our houses didn't suddenly become a communist plot.
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## The Bottom Line
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Housing freedom means having a secure place to live that doesn't eat up 80% of our income. It means understanding that a housed population is a productive population (who knew?).
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!!! warning "Reality Check"
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Our freedom to choose between overpriced rentals isn't actually freedom - it's just decorated desperation.
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Ready to build a freer Alberta? Let's share this with our neighbors - especially the ones who think "just move somewhere cheaper" is helpful advice.
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---
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## Sources & Evidence
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### Rent Crisis
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- Rent in Alberta increased **17.5% year-over-year** in 2024 - one of the fastest increases in Canada
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- Average rent is now unaffordable for minimum wage workers
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- Source: [Rentals.ca National Rent Report](https://rentals.ca/national-rent-report)
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- Source: [CBC News - Alberta rent increases](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-rent-increase-1.7089234)
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### Seniors Care Crisis
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- **64% of COVID-19 deaths** occurred in continuing care facilities
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- For-profit facilities had **significantly worse outcomes** according to the Auditor General
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- New Continuing Care Act **removed minimum care hour requirements** (unchanged since 1985)
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- Monthly costs: **$2,073-$3,324** for subsidized continuing care
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- **78% of Albertans** support mandatory minimum care standards
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- Source: [Friends of Medicare - Continuing Care](https://www.friendsofmedicare.org/continuingcare)
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- Source: [Auditor General of Alberta - Seniors Care Reports](https://www.oag.ab.ca/)
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### Childcare and Family Housing
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- Childcare waitlists exceed **400 children** in some Alberta communities
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- High-waitlist areas include Grande Prairie, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Fort McMurray
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- Childcare fees dropped from $44/day (2021) to $15/day (April 2025)
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- Source: [Government of Alberta - Childcare](https://www.alberta.ca/child-care)
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### Homelessness
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- Homelessness increasing across all demographics in Alberta
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- New construction focused on luxury housing, not affordable units
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- Waitlists for subsidized housing are years long
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- Source: [Alberta Urban Municipalities Association](https://www.abmunis.ca/)
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