The Right to Housing in Canada

The animated CHRC logo breaks apart, revealing text that says:
HOUSING IS A FUNDAMENTAL
HUMAN RIGHT
NARRATOR: Housing is a fundamental human right.
NARRATOR: Having a safe and secure place to call home helps people and families thrive and succeed.
An apartment building gradually begins to take shape. A door mat appears with words that say: WELCOME HOME. A door reveals the words: SAFE & SECURE. The word THRIVE appears in one window, and SUCCEED in the other window.
NARRATOR: It is central to human dignity, well-being, and community.
Across an awning is written: HUMAN DIGNITY. Window boxes bear the words WELL-BEING and COMMUNITY. It is a modest apartment building.
NARRATOR: But a home is more than just a roof and four walls.
A sun appears above the house, then a dark cloud rolls in and rain falls. Icicles form on the roof edge.
NARRATOR: It is protection from the elements.
The front of the house opens, revealing the interior. Inside each room is a different symbol: a water faucet, an electrical socket, a toilet, a furnace, and a phone bearing the numbers 911.
NARRATOR: And it is a means to access basic services. It also keeps us safe and healthy.
The view of the building zooms out to reveal an entire neighbourhood of many homes of different sizes. At the top, a plane flies across the sky with the words: RIGHT TO HOUSING on the side. The plane is pulling a long banner that reveals more words, one after the other:
ADEQUATE
AFFORDABLE
ACCESS WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION
OR HARASSMENT
SAFE
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
NARRATOR: The right to housing means many things, for example; it means you are able to get adequate housing that is affordable and meets your needs. It means you can access housing without discrimination or harassment, and you feel safe in your home. It also means your home should be accessible, like if you have a disability or you are an older person.
The original building, now some of its windows are broken, the flowers are wilted and a sign on the door says: FORCED EVICTION.
NARRATOR: Many people in Canada still live in housing that does not meet these standards, and many do not have a place to live at all.
The document says:
National Housing Strategy Act
HOUSING IS A FUNDAMENTAL
HUMAN RIGHT
NARRATOR: The National Housing Strategy Act recognizes housing as a fundamental human right.
A series of phrases appear typed on the document that say:
FOCUS ON THOSE IN GREATEST HOUSING NEED.
REFORM HOUSING LAWS, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS.
INVOLVE COMMUNITIES IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.
NARRATOR: It commits governments; to focus on those in greatest housing need; to reform housing laws, policies and programs through a human rights-based approach, and to involve communities in meaningful ways.
The document turns into a toolbox with the words NATIONAL HOUSING STRATEGY. Signs on posts pop up behind the toolbox that say; NATIONAL HOUSING COUNCIL, the other says; FEDERAL HOUSING ADVOCATE.
NARRATOR: The Act also establishes a National Housing Strategy with accountability tools to help develop and maintain the strategy; including the National Housing Council, and the Federal Housing Advocate.
The view moves towards the sign that says FEDERAL HOUSING ADVOCATE. Other signs say: PROMOTE THE RIGHT TO HOUSE and PROTECT THE RIGHT TO HOUSING and ACROSS CANADA. The signs are held by people marching together.
NARRATOR: The Federal Housing Advocate’s mandate is to promote and protect the right to housing across Canada.
The signs exit the frame. The FEDERAL HOUSING ADVOCATE sign stays. Two bullhorns appear. One says HOUSING NEED, and the other, HOMELESSNESS.
NARRATOR: The Advocate gives those impacted by housing need and homelessness a voice.
The microphones drop out of frame, and are replaced by a mail slot. A postcard bearing the words SYSTEMIC HOUSING ISSUES is deposited through the slot. The postcard flips over. Written on the back are the words: SYSTEMIC HOUSING ISSUES. The building behind says NATIONAL HOUSING COUNCIL.
NARRATOR: The Advocate receives submissions from the public on systemic housing issues and uses that information to make recommendations to improve Canada’s housing laws, policies, and programs.
NARRATOR The Advocate can review the issue. In some cases, they will refer it to the National Housing Council. The Council will establish a review panel to examine the issue more closely and make recommendations.
Another postcard lands on top of the existing one, covering it. The words on the new postcard say: INDIVIDUAL DISPUTE. The card folds and reshapes into a leaf that soars across a map of Canada, then the leaf heads towards two buildings on the horizon, one marked LANDLORD-TENANT BOARD and the other HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
NARRATOR: The Advocate doesn’t help with individual disputes. If you need help resolving a dispute, you need to go to the Landlord-Tenant Board or human rights commission in your province or territory.
To learn more about the right to housing, visit:
chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/