A Housing Crisis in Need of a National Strategy
Decent, safe, affordable housing is just one of many elements that must be addressed when examining the larger and complex issue of poverty.
People rely on housing to remain stable. Living on the street, hat in hand, hoping for loose change, is a distorted image of what it means to be homeless. Many who rely on shelters, who are constantly moving from couch to couch in homes of friends, who share accommodations and are forced to sleep in shifts are all examples of those referred to as the ‘hidden homeless.’ Being constantly in search of a home affects all other aspects of life, from education and employment to healthcare and self-esteem. A person should not have to face the arduous choice of deciding whether to pay the rent or to pay for basic needs like food or clothes. If we plan to engage in a meaningful fight against poverty, we must acknowledge that having a home is crucial to establishing a strong foundation.
Exact numbers of Canada’s homeless are unknown but it is widely reported that 1.5 million households are in core need for suitable, adequate and affordable housing. Suitable dwellings have the appropriate number of bedrooms and size for the household (according to National Occupancy Standards); adequate dwellings are not in need of any major repairs; and affordable dwellings cost less than 30 per cent of the total pre-tax income of the household. Without sufficient income to meet all three of these standards, a household would be defined as being in core need.
The issue of housing is not only about social justice, though that is certainly an important view to take. This is also an economic issue and should be addressed from the local level all the way up to the federal level. Canada is a rich country; the World Bank lists our economy as the eighth largest in the world. Each and every citizen should be alarmed by the fact that over 3 million Canadians need better housing and that one in six children do not have adequate shelter. This is a problem that affects each and every one of us.
The City of Toronto undertook a study of affordable housing in order to create a framework for public review and engagement. They discovered that economic development, environmental sustainability, liveable neighbourhoods and healthy people were all positive benefits that stemmed from the presence of affordable housing. As the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) points out, “a strong and balanced housing market is crucial to a region’s economic success and a necessary precondition for business growth. The lack of affordable housing can be a serious impediment to attracting and keeping a highly mobile labour force.” Through both attracting new workers and retaining existing workers, the presence of affordable housing is key in maintaining and strengthening the economy of an area.
Through mixed-income neighbourhoods, better living conditions are created and sustained for low-income people with initiatives like increased community safety. Additionally, the link between housing and health cannot be overlooked and the pressure on our health care system will be reduced (both for physical and mental health) with proper investment in affordable housing.
While a variety of initiatives are being undertaken in different cities, through a number of programs and community groups, there is no national housing strategy in place to make sense of all these patchwork plans. The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to this issue and declares that all of its members "believe that housing is a fundamental human right that contributes towards positive outcomes in health, education, the environment, sustainable neighbourhoods and economic competitiveness and prosperity."
The Standing Senate Committee of Social Affairs, Science and Technology has heard a number of important witnesses speak to the topic of affordable housing. Through their testimonies and the ongoing studying being done, we hope to paint a clear picture of what it means to be a Canadian without a place to call home and ultimately propose a plan to put an end to the daily struggle felt by too many of our fellow citizens.