Human Rights-Based, Gender-Sensitive National Standards for Emergency Shelters Across Canada
These Shelter Standards are grounded in a comprehensive framework that merges international human rights principles with a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) approach. By drawing from international treaties, human rights frameworks, and best practices, the standards aim to set a high bar for emergency shelter operations while remaining sensitive to the unique needs of diverse gender identities and expressions. The Standards are co-created by the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, National Right to Housing Network, and the Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network, including guidance from a National Advisory Committee.
An Intersectional Feminist Housing Agenda for Canada
The WNHHN, National Indigenous Housing Network, the Pan-Canadian Voice for Women’s Housing, and an intersectional, nation-wide coalition of feminist advocates released An Intersectional Feminist Housing Agenda for Canada: A Briefing Guide for Canada’s Housing Minister, which includes 15 Calls to Action for the federal government to answer. The calls range from targeted investments in housing, scaling solutions to the level of need, to taking meaningful steps that will realize the right to housing for this often under-served and marginalized population of women, gender-diverse, children, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
Gendered Evictions in Financialized Housing Markets Across Canada: The Case for Human Rights Intervention and Oversight
Our report and submission to the National Housing Council, produced in collaboration with the National Right to Housing Network, aims to feed into Canada’s first-ever review panel (which reviews systemic violations of the right to adequate housing) and explores the intersection of financialization and evictions in the lives of women and gender-diverse people. We urge the review panel to consider the gendered intersection of these issues across Canada, and to provide an assessment of, and suggested remedy for, the role that the financialization of housing plays in the denial of substantive equality for marginalized women and gender-diverse people. Our report draws on data from our primary research, an extensive literature review, case law review, and testimony shared by our lived expert peers and colleagues.
Housing Need & Homelessness Amongst Gender-Diverse People in Canada—A Preliminary Portrait
These companion reports highlight homelessness and housing need amongst gender-diverse people in Canada, highlighting pervasive human rights violations. Commissioned by the Office of the Federal Housing Advocate, these reports are a starting point for how we can better realize the right to housing for gender-diverse people across the country.
Pan-Canadian Women’s Housing & Homelessness Survey
This survey is the largest national gender-specific survey on housing need and homelessness in Canada to date. Completed by 500 women and gender diverse people, this survey provides insight into the unique causes, conditions, and consequences of housing precarity and homelessness for women, girls and gender diverse people. The report highlights 10 key challenges that illustrate why and how homelessness is gendered, offering 21 recommendations for transformative change.
( En Francais )
A Rights-Based, GBA+ Analysis of the National Housing Strategy
The National Housing Strategy Act (NHSA) establishes housing as a human right in domestic legislation, and requires that the National Housing Strategy (NHS) adopt a rights-based approach. However, there are significant gaps between NHS programs and the NHSA when it comes to protecting the rights of women and gender diverse people. This report employs a rights-based, GBA+ analysis to explore how the NHS can progressively realize the right to housing for women, girls, and gender diverse people in Canada.
( En Francais )
Literature Review: The State of Women’s Housing Need & Homelessness in Canada
Homelessness amongst women, girls and gender diverse peoples is a crisis in Canada – hiding in plain sight. This literature review explores evidence on the unique causes, consequences, and experiences of homelessness and housing precarity for this group. It is the most comprehensive literature review on this topic in Canada.
Implementation of the Right to Housing for Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People in Canada
The ratification of the National Housing Strategy Act (NHSA) provides a historic opportunity to progressively realize of the right to housing for women, girls, and gender diverse people in Canada. This report draws together findings from the WNHHN’s literature review, pan-Canadian survey, and GBA+ federal policy analysis to outline how the federal government can advance the human right to housing for this group.
( En Francais )
Resources
A place of My Own
Women’s Literature Review
Women Deliver – COVID-19 Newsletter
Best Practice Guideline for Ending Women’s and Girl’s Homelessness
Red Women Rising
Reconsidering Gender in Homelessness (Bretherton, 2017)
Reclaiming Power and Place
Best Practice Guideline for Ending Women’s and Girl’s Homelessness
Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report
A Little Kindness Would Go a Long Way
Coming Together: Homeless Women, Housing and Social Support
Voices: Women, Poverty and Homelessness in Canada
A Framework for Ending Women’s and Girls’ Homelessness
Better Off in a Shelter?
Housing, Homelessness, and Violence Against Women
Women and Homelessness (Bapitista, 2010)
Connecting the Circle
Scaling Up and Caring Report
Getting Home Project
Developing Gender-Based, Low Barrier Housing to Address Complex Homelessness
Pan Canadian Voice for Women Update on Calls Report
Housing Assessment Resource Tools
Additional Resources
The Homeless Hub, the largest online library of resources and research on homelessness, provides further resources on women’s homelessness. Click below to explore their resources.