Housing in Canada: A National Crisis
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
In 2006, the United Nations called the issue of housing and homelessness in Canada a “national emergency”. In Canada, housing is the responsibility of all levels of government. With an estimated four million Canadians in need of affordable housing, it would be expected that our governments would be investing heavily in programs aimed at combating homelessness and housing insecurity. Instead, housing programs have been downloaded by the federal government over the last two decades to the provincial and municipal levels, leading to enormous reductions in program spending on housing by federal and provincial governments.
The three current national housing and homelessness programs - the Affordable Housing Initiative, the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program, and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy - were due to expire at the end of March 2009. Following pressure from many groups and individuals, including CPJ, on September 17 Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Monte Solberg announced a commitment of $1.9 billion dollars over the next five years to continue funding these programs. While this announcement is a positive step, it only goes so far as to maintain the same level of support currently given by the federal government. This is not enough to adequately address the housing crisis. The magnitude of the problem is such that only long-term, strategic planning, agreed to by all levels of government, can ensure every Canadian has an affordable home.
Public justice calls us to promote social structures that contribute to the common good and maintain the right of every person to live in dignity. When looking at the issue through a public justice lens, it is evident that Canada’s housing crisis is unjust and must be addressed in order to ensure that every Canadian has equal access to the resources necessary for dignity and well-being.
A contributing factor to Canada’s crisis is the misconception that market forces alone can ensure that everyone in society will have their basic needs met. However, the current situation indicates that government action is needed if positive change is to occur. In 1976, Canada signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which recognizes housing as a human right and emphasizes the crucial responsibility of governments to respect that right. Ensuring that every person has access to adequate and affordable housing is an essential component to ensuring quality of life and well-being for all Canadians, and each level of government in Canada has a role to play.
Housing insecurity is both a symptom and a cause of poverty in Canada. The high cost of housing in many parts of the country, coupled with insufficient income, has meant that many people are forced to choose between paying for the rent or other basic necessities such as food. Inadequate housing negatively impacts the health and well-being of families, limits the ability of people to participate in the economy and in their community, and is environmentally unsustainable. It disproportionately impacts groups that are already marginalized by poverty, such as women and children, Aboriginal peoples, and people with disabilities. Protecting the human right to housing requires Canada to address issues of affordable housing and homelessness, and is also a crucial step towards fighting poverty in our country.
During the 1970s, Canada created successful national programs to provide affordable housing units and combat homelessness. However, the cuts to social spending of the early 1990s saw drastic reductions in the level of government support provided towards these initiatives. Canada’s National Affordable Housing Program was ended in 1993, and responsibility for housing issues was shifted to lower levels of government that often did not have the resources or the tax base to adequately address the issues. As a result, according to the UN, Canada currently has one of the smallest social housing sectors among developed countries.
Cuts to income support programs such as social assistance since the early 1990s have significantly reduced the ability of low-income people to meet basic needs such as housing. An unclear division of responsibility between levels of government has weakened the housing services that are still in place. In addition, government programs over the past decade have focused primarily on a “crisis management approach,” which has attempted to create short-term solutions to a complex problem. However, until the root causes of housing insecurity - such as poverty - are addressed, millions of people in Canada will continue to be homeless or struggle to keep a roof over their heads.
To effectively combat the housing crisis, Canada needs to commit to long-term strategic planning with appropriate funding on affordable housing and homelessness. This plan must be integrated into a national poverty reduction strategy that addresses the root causes of poverty, including access to adequate health and social services, and lack of a living wage. Housing initiatives must be targeted to the most vulnerable groups in society. We cannot rely on the market alone to provide adequate housing and guard against homelessness - all levels of government have a role to play in protecting the human right to housing.
On February 6, 2008 the Provincial-Territorial Housing Ministers met and called on the federal government to support a long-term housing strategy, as the provinces cannot effectively address the issue without adequate federal assistance. It is now time for the federal government to step in.
The current election campaign is a crucial time to bring Canada’s housing crisis into the national spotlight. Ask your candidate what their party plans to do to ensure that the right to housing is upheld. Encourage discussion about how your community can work towards an end to homelessness and provide affordable housing for all Canadians.
Questions for Candidates:
- Will your party commit to long-term strategic planning to address housing and homelessness issues in Canada?
- What will your party do to ensure that every Canadian receives a livable income?
- How does your party intend to address the specific housing needs of vulnerable groups?
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