Adequate housing has been touted as a ‘frontline defence against coronavirus’ since the intensification of the global pandemic. As a result, heightened attention has been given to the problems of homelessness and housing insecurity across Canada. However, these are far from new issues. In December 2019, before the economic downturn spurred by the pandemic, the majority of Canadians were concerned that at least one person they cared about was at risk of experiencing homelessness. Under present conditions, this risk is likely closer to reality for many as residential eviction bans were set to be lifted on July 1, 2020 in some provinces while others are set to be lifted on August 1, 2020.
