Creating Urban Reserves!

It struck me while reading this article, that we don't just have Indian Reserves that are money sucking pits, but we also have urban reserves, in the name of "public housing", that have the same problem. What is the one thing that they both have in common? Lack of personal ownership. When the federal, or in the case of public housing, the city, owns the properties, you get inefficient management, leading to massive cash infusions needed to keep properties, that no one cares about, especially the tenants, in living condition.

Public housing on the edge
City agency, faced with latest shootings, laments lack of funding to improve rundown unit

Trouble is a habitual visitor in Toronto's public housing communities and, despite efforts by residents and housing officials, these neighbourhoods are getting worse.

The city's aging, rundown and outdated supply of as -sisted housing for poor and struggling families have long been viewed as magnets for crime, drug dealing, violence, domestic assault and alcohol- and drug-fuelled violence.

So, gun killings are the fault of rundown public housing? I get it, fix the housing and the gun play will stop. Let's ban public housing, lefties should like that, they love banning things.

Don't get me wrong, I want to help people with low incomes, recent immigrants and especially disabled people who need special living quarters. So, I propose that the rent they pay goes towards ownership of those public housing units. That they become responsible for keeping their apartment in repair, with part of their rent going towards maintenance like any condo organization. Give them pride of ownership.

Urban reserves for the poor (Layton comes to mind) can become real communities that the people live in with pride. One word, OWNERSHIP.