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.
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.
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:
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.