RAISING MORE ROOFS

Affordable housing for all comes a step closer

farha

Leilani Farha, executive director of Canada Without Poverty

 

LEILANI FARHA SAYS WE ALL WON BIG ON NOVEMBER 22. Just how big is not yet certain.

What is certain is the federal government finally recognized housing as a basic human right.  “This is a long-time coming,” says Farha “for years Canada has resisted repeated calls by UN bodies to address homelessness and inadequate housing as an urgent human rights matter.”

The uncertainty is how much practical difference that recognition will make to people in need of a decent place to live, at a price they can afford. But Farha is staying positive.

Farha is the executive director of Canada Without Poverty and a UN rapporteur on the right to housing. She believes the federal government action will bring “a big shift in the country because it has triggered a conversation that needs to happen.”

She says the true value of the new housing policy will depend on grassroots input.  “It is really important that everyone remains engaged, because this is just a tiny step in terms of solving the housing situation. Those who work in the housing sector, whether on the front line or in policy, should really think about what the right to housing would look like,” Farha added.

The housing crisis in Canada is serious:

  • 235,000 of us are left homeless in Canada annually
  • over 35,000 of us are homeless on any given night
  • hundreds of thousands of us can’t afford adequate housing
  • many young people stay home with their parents
  • our indigenous population is disproportionately affected by homelessness
  • the explosion of low-wage work means that many workers with a full-time jobs can’t afford to put a roof over their head
  • retirees struggle to cope with rising housing costs

Real chance to do more

Farha believes the government target of cutting homelessness in half within ten years is too cautious. “They have to move that target forward. They have to eliminate homelessness if they want to be human rights compliant. Canada is an affluent country with strong economic growth. Canada could eliminate homelessness.”

The fact our cash-strapped provinces will have to come up with half the $40 billion promised in the federal government plan is another worry.

But the new federal housing policy also offers real possibilities for positive action. For example, Farha points out that if the government does legislate housing as a right, it will be obliged to create an ombudsman or tribunal so that there is a mechanism for people to pursue claims if their right has been violated.

But she stressed such a body could only be effective if it is independent of government. This would enable it to examine systemic housing problems, like skyrocketing housing prices in Vancouver and Toronto.

Such an independent advocate capable of responding to popular concerns is necessary, Farha noted, because governments too often “fail to look at structural causes. For example, the way in which states are run, their close ties with the banks and the circulation of money.

“I’m not suggesting overthrowing

capitalism, but we have to be able to decide

what is acceptable in our society.”

Indigenous housing is another area that requires immediate attention. “We still have a very, very long way to go before the government can shed its responsibility for colonisation,” said Farha.

“The most important thing is for the government to recognize that indigenous people have to lead the process. We really need to get that right in this country, because living conditions for many indigenous people in cities and on reserve are dire.”

You can get involved in drawing attention to the housing crisis by supporting organizations like CWP and local housing groups which campaign against homelessness and bad housing conditions.

* HOMELESS ADVOCACY CANADA

* CANADA WITHOUT POVERTY (CWP)
 

 

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