The Federal Housing Advocate is calling on the Government of Canada to take bold action to address the housing crisis by making non-market housing a cornerstone of its strategy, ensuring federal housing policy meets the country's human rights commitments. A new report, commissioned by the Advocate's office and penned by housing policy expert Dr. Carolyn Whitzman, warns that Canada is falling far short of meeting the targets set out in the National Housing Strategy.
Solving the housing crisis requires more than accelerating supply — it demands the right kind of housing, guided by clear definitions, measurable targets, and a strong commitment to human rights.
Accessible housing is about all of us. Over 8 million Canadians live with a disability and that number will only grow as our population ages. Accessible housing is a moral and pragmatic imperative. This national building plan can do both: meet the urgency of this moment and fulfill Canada’s human rights obligations.
Today, Canada’s Federal Housing Advocate, Marie-Josée Houle, asked the National Housing Council to launch a review panel to examine the lack of accessible housing across Canada.
Letter of concern from the Federal Housing Advocate on the topic of encampments.
We are monitoring the right to adequate housing for people with disabilities in Canada. 27% of Canadians have a disability. That's about 8 million people. We are looking at homelessness. Homelessness means not having a stable, safe, and permanent place to live.
The Federal Housing Advocate is one of a series of several accountability mechanisms created by the National Housing Strategy Act to promote and protect the right to adequate housing in Canada, along with the National Housing Council and review panels.
This report is part of a series of reports on the financialization of housing commissioned by the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate (OFHA). The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this document are those of the author.