Housing is a human right.

Join the call for government action
on social housing and human rights

Canada is in crisis: tens of thousands of people are homeless and hundreds of thousands are struggling to afford rising rents. We call on the government to act.

In case you missed it:

Close up image of approximately 20 Canadian pennies.

Budget submission

Since the early 1990s, the federal government has contributed to the housing affordability crisis in Canada by prioritizing market-based housing for middle to high-income households. Budget 2025 largely maintains this financialized trajectory, worsening housing conditions in Canada particularly for the lowest-income households. Read SHHR’s Budget 2025 submission which calls for adequate investments in non-market, rent-geared-to-income social housing.

Op-ed: Housing isn’t just shelter

Coalition member Dr. Shauna MacKinnon reflects on the International Social Housing Festival and the innovative, non-market housing approaches underway in other nations. MacKinnon calls on the Canadian government to learn from these countries to improve federal housing policy.

Lancement de Maisons Canada: Le gouvernement canadien ne peut pas se dérober à ses propres obligations à mettre en oeuvre le droit à un logement décent

Le lancement de l’organisme Maisons Canada laisse plusieurs questions en suspens, laissant craindre aux groupes de défense du droit au logement que le gouvernement canadien se soustrait de ses responsabilités en ne donnant pas de cibles suffisamment claires à la nouvelle agence fédérale. Le Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU), un regroupement national québécois de 140 organismes portant la voix des locataires mal-logés, et une partenaire de SHHR, est convaincu qu’une plus grande implication du fédéral dans le logement social et communautaire pourrait contribuer à faire progresser la maigre part qu’il occupe sur le parc locatif. Or, le gouvernement n’a pas offert suffisamment de garanties pour atteindre ce résultat.

More than 2.68 million Canadians are in core housing need – unable to find a home that meets the acceptable housing standards of adequacy, suitability and affordability.

Adequate

Housing is considered adequate if it is not in need of major repairs.

Suitable

Housing is considered suitable if there are enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of the resident household.

Affordable

Housing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30% of before-tax household income.

Some groups are harder hit than others. Women-led single parent households, racialized and newcomer families, people with disabilities, and First Nations, Metis, and Inuit households are over-represented in core housing need.

Since 1993, the federal government has built very few new units of social housing, and old funding agreements for existing units are expiring.

The 2017 National Housing Strategy has yielded minimal genuinely affordable housing for individuals with low incomes.

Only 3% of units funded through the Strategy’s largest program are affordable to low-income households.

An apartment building surrounded by trees.

It’s time for the Government of Canada to invest in social housing and help end the housing crisis.

When people have a safe, healthy, affordable place to call home, they can plan for the future, invest in their education and careers, and participate in their communities. This makes Canadian society stronger and benefits everyone.

Social housing is essential for…

Ensuring Dignity
and Safety

Strengthening Canadian Society

Upholding
Human Rights

We call on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Housing to fulfill their legal obligation to realize the human right to housing and:

Construction workers reviewing plans amidst scaffolding.

1. Create a minimum of 50,000 net new rent-geared-to-income social housing units each year for 10 years, starting now. These units should be targeted for those experiencing core housing need and homelessness and have rents permanently set at no more than 30% of household income.

2. Invest in the acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of new and existing public, non-profit, and cooperative-owned housing that meets the unique and varied requirements of people experiencing core housing need and homelessness.

Join us in demanding a real solution to the housing crisis.

Endorse our call to action