In a formal response released today, the federal government has promised only to take “under advisement” a detailed report adopted unanimously by the Senate of Canada that calls for a comprehensive and co-ordinated national strategy on housing, homelessness and poverty. In from the Margins includes 74 specific recommendations, but the federal government has refused to […]
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News flash: Cdn Chamber of Commerce delegates call for national plan to end homelessness
Homelessness is bad for business, says the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Earlier today, delegates to the Chamber’s annual meeting adopted a resolution from the Burnaby Board of Trade calling on the federal government to create a national plan to end homelessness. The Chamber represents more than 300 local chambers and boards of trade and more than 175,000 […]
Health as an Equity Issue – and as a Union Issue
I was really pleased to speak at an OPSEU symposium on equity over the weekend. Unions have long played a central role in the broad community coalitions that are so vital to addressing the underlying social determinants of health inequalities. And OPSEU and other union members work on the front-lines of health and are vital […]
Continue ReadingHealth as an Equity Issue – and as a Union Issue
Continued erosion in home ownership affordability: RBC Economics
Home ownership is growing even less affordable across Canada, according to the September 2010 update from RBC Economics. Rapidly increasingly house prices and mortgage rates are the main culprit. In Vancouver, which is Canada’s least affordable ownership market, a median household needs to spend a staggering 82.6% of pre-tax income for a standard home.
Continue ReadingContinued erosion in home ownership affordability: RBC Economics
Homeless youth face high levels of physical, sexual violence: New research
A devastating 76% of homeless youth report being victims of physical or sexual violence in a powerful new research report released today. Most of them – almost 73% – say that they were victimized more than once. Young women experience a higher rate of violence; but both male and female youth have little or no way to […]
Continue ReadingHomeless youth face high levels of physical, sexual violence: New research
Housing And Health Presentation To OMSSA/OAH Housing And Homelessness Forum September 2010
Bad housing leads to bad health, and good housing improves population health. Michael Shapcott’s presentation to the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association / Ontario Association of Hostels provincial forum on housing and homelessness in September of 2010 highlights current research on housing and health, and sets out some key research and policy gaps.
Toronto’s Increasing Segregation By Income Is Driving An Increase In Health Inequalities
The increasing segregation of Toronto by income is also driving an increase in health inequalities. Michael Shapcott’s presentation to the Lakeshore interagency group at LAMP in September of 2010 outlines the realities of growing segregation by income in neighbourhoods throughout Toronto, and the corresponding increase in health inequality.
Clock ticking on federal response to Senate housing / homelessness report
The federal government has just days remaining to make its formal response to In from the Margins, the comprehensive report adopted unanimously by the Senate of Canada that calls for a national housing and homelessness strategy. Under Parliamentary rules, the federal government must reply to the Senate report by Sunday. While the feds may politely dismiss […]
Continue ReadingClock ticking on federal response to Senate housing / homelessness report
Ontario set to make welcome changes to ROOF rent supplements: Star
The Ontario government is making important and positive changes to one of its housing supplement programs for low-income renters, according Laurie Monsebraaten in The Toronto Star. Previously, the province’s ROOF (rent supplement) program was only available to families with children and only offered a maximum of $100 monthly – restrictions that drew criticisms from many housing experts. […]
Continue ReadingOntario set to make welcome changes to ROOF rent supplements: Star
More Than 50% of Canadians Living Precariously
A recent survey by the Canadian Payroll Association shows that 6 out of every 10 Canadians would struggle if they missed just one paycheque, with younger people (aged 18-34) and single parents being most vulnerable to hardship. We have also documented the precarious financial situation of specific populations (e.g., those who are on a low-income who often […]
Continue ReadingMore Than 50% of Canadians Living Precariously