Housing Stability and Homelessness

Housing is a fundamental element in the social determinants of health and includes access, availability, affordability, quality, and homelessness. Recently, housing prices in Huron have rapidly increased—in many cases prices have doubled. At the same time, housing supply, especially affordable housing for both rental and ownership, is almost non-existent. Many Huron residents, including young families, low-income earners, and seniors are now potentially unable to afford to keep living in the community.

Canada’s first National Housing Strategy Act declares that adequate housing is a fundamental human right affirmed in international law. It recognizes that adequate housing is essential to a person’s inherent dignity and well-being and to building healthy, sustainable communities for all.

Housing is considered “affordable” if it costs less than 30% of a household’s before-tax income (shelter cost-income ratio). The ratio applies to housing provided by the private, public, and non-profit sectors and includes all forms of housing tenure: rental, ownership, and co-operative ownership, as well as temporary and permanent housing. Given the current context in Huron with housing afford­ability and shifting demographics, it is important that we continue to approach housing through the lens of a continuum that is based on providing adequate, affordable, and accessible housing for all.

Homelessness is not a choice – it’s about a lack of choice.  It’s about not having access to the resources to prevent falling into the current of homelessness, a current so powerful that it cannot be escaped alone.