This presentation outlines the reasons why it is important for everyone to be properly housed. Michael Shapcott, Director of Housing and Innovation www.wellesleyinstitute.com Follow us on twitter @wellesleyWI

1. Everyone needs
a good place to
call home
Community housing forum
Matthew Kellway, MP, May 24, 2012
Michael Shapcott; Director, Housing and
Innovation; The Wellesley Institute

2. Most
housing
needs
invisible

3. TO affordable housing wait list
8213
85000# 08
8
e 20
si nc
80000#
2 3%
Up
75000#
70000#
63 791
65000#
60000#
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
December 2011: 82,138 households on
wait list; 280 housed - 24 year wait

4. Bad housing makes you sick!
Homelessness:
Increased morbidity
Increased premature morality
Contextual:
Individual / neighbourhood deprivation
networks / friends / crime
Biological / physical:
Chemicals, gases, pollutants
Socio-economic: Design (accidents) / crowding
Affordability / energy
Transportation / income / jobs
Mental health:
Alarming rates... especially
Clinical depression and anxiety
Control / meaning
Collective efficacy

5. Good housing good for health!
Physical and mental health:
Better health outcomes /
decreased health care utilization
Environment / physical infrastructure:
New housing, repairs, heating, noise,
indoor + outdoor environmental issues,
allergens, water + sanitation
Community safety:
Reduced recidivism among
people leaving incarceration
Affordability interventions:
Income-based housing subsidies

6. “After 20 years of continuous decline, both inequality and
poverty rates have increased rapidly in the past 10 years,
now reaching levels above the OECD average.”
OECD (2008), Growing Unequal? : Income Distribution and
Poverty in OECD Countries

7. ‘Social spending in Canada relies more on
public services (education, housing,
health, etc.) than on cash transfers, such
as unemployment and family benefits.’
OECD, 2011

8. Ongoing erosion of federal housing investments
(Federal housing investments as a percentage of GDP)
1.20%
1.10%
1.00%
0.90%
0.80%
0.70%
0.60%
0.50%
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Follow the money...

9. 2011 federal spending estimates
2010 2011 Change
Assisted $1.722b $1.628b 5% cut
housing
On-reserve $215m $156m 27% cut
Repair $674m $37m 94% cut
AHI $452m $16m 97% cut
Overall $3.131b $1.907b 39% cut
‘Scheduled termination’

10. Looking ahead -
more federal cuts

12. Genuine
Canadian
hero
John Peters
Humphreys

13. International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights: Article 11
1. The States Parties to the present Covenant
recognize the right of everyone to an adequate
standard of living for himself and his family,
including adequate food, clothing and housing, and
to the continuous improvement of living conditions.
The States Parties will take appropriate steps to
ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to
this effect the essential importance of international
co-operation based on free consent.

14. UN Special Rapporteur, 2009
“Canada has a long and proud history of
housing successes, and has been known
around the world for its innovative
housing solutions. The Special Rapporteur
visited and received information about
programmes, laws and policies that
represent good practices... Canada can
also rely on a tremendous range of
academic and civil society resources.” !
“There has been a significant erosion of housing rights
over the past two decades. Canada’s successful social
housing programme, which created more than half a
million homes starting in 1973, has been discontinued.

16. Canada officially
accepted UPR
recommendations
on housing and
homelessness
“Canada accepts recommendations 47 and 48. Canada is
working to improve housing choice and affordability.
Governments are making substantial investments in housing
through programs targeting affordability, housing renovation,
homelessness and support for existing social housing units.
Addressing Aboriginal housing issues on reserve remains a
priority. Canada provides support through programs targeting
the construction of new housing units, the renovation of existing
housing stock, and subsidies for existing rental housing. Since
2006, new funding for Aboriginal people has been dedicated to
resolving challenges of poverty and housing.”

18. www.wellesleyinstitute.com
Thank you!