New data shows that people with disabilities face financial hardship, unsafe housing, and a lack of supports and services at far higher rates than people without disabilities.
Today, we mark International Human Rights Day and the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 1 of the Declaration proclaims that all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Yet for many, this promise remains unfulfilled. To truly live up to those words, Canada must do a better job of ensuring that everyone across the country can live with dignity.
Over the course of 2022–2023, the Federal Housing Advocate made it a priority to meet with people who are directly affected by inadequate housing and homelessness.
On National Housing Day, Marie-Josée Houle, Federal Housing Advocate, issues the following statement. A version of this story was published in Le Devoir (French only) on November 22, 2024.
The groups, including Federal Housing Advocate Marie-Josée Houle, President of Métis Nation – Saskatchewan Glen McCallum, and Loretta King, Metis-Nation – Saskatchewan’s Infrastructure and Housing Minister, will also meet with federal ministers and senators in Ottawa that day to discuss the recommendations and advocate for solutions.
Across Canada, people continue to be forced to live in public spaces because they have nowhere else to go. This national human rights crisis calls for a national response.
If you have already started a submission and saved your progress, you will be given the option to continue the draft when you start the form.
Once your submission is made to the Federal Housing Advocate, you do not have to take any further action.
The Advocate will read your submission and consider how it relates to other people who have experienced the same issues related to adequate housing. The Advocate will then consider all of these issues together. The Advocate will submit an annual report to Parliament and make recommendations to improve these systemic housing issues for everyone.
If you have experienced homelessness or had problems with your housing, you can make a submission to the Advocate. Individuals and organizations can share their experiences.
Your submission will help the Advocate better understand systemic housing issues in Canada. The Advocate uses this information to tailor recommendations and solutions to specific communities and to those most in need, as well as drive change to housing policies, programs and initiatives.