Government of Canada Launches Consultations on the Human Rights-Based Approach to Housing

TORONTO, March 14, 2018 /CNW/ - So that more Canadians have access to a safe and affordable place to call home, the Government of Canada is taking further steps to recognize and progressively realize a human rights-based approach to housing.

Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing and Urban Affairs), today launched a consultation period on the human rights-based approach to housing.

The consultations will seek the views of provinces and territories, municipalities, experts in the legal and human rights fields, housing experts and stakeholders, Indigenous peoples, those with lived experience of housing need and homelessness and all Canadians. One of the main results will be the drafting of a bill to introduce new legislation that would maintain a National Housing Strategy for now and the future.

All Canadians are encouraged to share their thoughts and add their voice to a national conversation on a human rights-based approach to housing, and new legislation. For more information, to read the discussion paper and to provide feedback, visit www.placetocallhome.ca.

The Government of Canada believes that all Canadians deserve access to housing that meets their needs and that they can afford. That is why Canada's first-ever National Housing Strategy includes bold targets to cut homelessness in half and remove 530,000 families from housing need over the next 10 years.

Quotes:

"Nothing is more important than a home, and that's why our Government announced Canada's first ever National Housing Strategy: a comprehensive $40-billion plan that will fuel our economy, strengthen the middle class and create inclusive, sustainable homes and communities where we can all grow and prosper. The National Housing Strategy will make a real and lasting difference in the lives of the most vulnerable Canadians, and we are building on this historic milestone by consulting Canadians to help to, in part, inform how our Government will ensure an ongoing dialogue on the human rights-based approach to housing, and to ensure that diverse voices are included in the discussion." ? The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

"Housing is the best tool we have to achieve better social, economic and environmental outcomes for people and communities. It lies at the heart of reducing poverty and homelessness. By launching these consultations, our Government will engage Canadians from all walks of life to share their views on key elements of a rights based approach to housing, and what maintaining a National Housing Strategy for now and into the future means to them. By making sure everyone's voice is heard, we can continue to improve the homes and lives of Canadians over the next decade and for generations to come." ? Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing and Urban Affairs)

Quick Facts:

• On November 22, 2017, National Housing Day, the federal government took a historic step and incorporated a human rights-based approach to housing when it launched Canada's first-ever National Housing Strategy.
• The National Housing Strategy is a 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need.
• Canada is one of 166 countries around the world that is a party to the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Canada has committed to take steps to progressively realize the right to adequate housing as part of an adequate standard of living for our citizens. To find out more about the ICESCR, download or read a copy of the Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing.
• As part of a human rights-based approach to housing, other measures will be introduced to enhance participation and inclusion in housing decision-making. A new Federal Housing Advocate and a National Housing Council will be established to provide input to housing policies and programs and help address systemic barriers that many Canadians still face in accessing affordable housing. Additionally, a new Community Based-Tenant Initiative will promote more inclusive communities and build greater awareness of the challenges faced by vulnerable groups.

Associated Links:

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation