On August 8, 2023, the Women’s National Housing & Homelessness Network (WNHHN), Calgary Women’s Centre, and the National Indigenous Housing Network (NIHN) will be hosting Federal Housing Advocate Marie-Josée Houle for a community-led discussion on housing precarity and homelessness among women and gender-diverse people.
This event seeks to generate a community-led conversation on the realization of the right to housing in Canada, and what this looks like in Calgary. The Advocate will be hearing from women and gender-diverse individuals about their experiences with the ongoing housing crisis and what solutions are needed.
Join Us in Calgary!
If you are a woman or gender-diverse person with insights on the housing challenges in Calgary and area, we want to hear from you!
We would like to invite powerful voices of lived experts, frontline workers, advocates, service providers and scholars to join us in presenting insights and solutions to the Advocate on key issues that shape the housing landscape in Calgary. Your insights will help develop a vision for ensuring that all women and gender-diverse people across Canada have access to adequate housing.
Want to join? Fill out a brief application HERE.
Background on the Right to Housing in Canada
The Human Right to Housing was legislated in Canada through the National Housing Strategy Act (NHSA) in 2019. Under the Act, the Federal Housing Advocate is appointed as a nonpartisan watchdog to assess the scale and scope of systemic housing issues in Canada, and submit recommendations to the Minister responsible for housing. Once the recommendations are submitted, the Act requires the Minister to issue an official response in 120 days in the House of Commons and the Senate. This human rights mechanism is first of its kind in Canada, in that it domestically legislates rights that Canada was internationally accountable to through the International Covenant on Social, Cultural and Economic Rights.
The NHSA offers a critical accountability process to demand government action on systemic housing challenges.The Federal Housing Advocate plays a central role in mobilizing the NHSA rights mechanism through engaging lived experts, advocates, and service providers to understand how systemic failures that create and perpetuate housing insecurity can be addressed across Canada.
The Advocate’s visit in Calgary is a critical opportunity for individuals to share their unique insights on the right to housing and the specific challenges faced by women and gender-diverse individuals.
Please note that this is an invite-only event in order to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion. If you are interested in attending, please fill out our brief application form and we will reach out to you with next steps.