It is not a surprise to most social service agencies in Canada that housing, or the lack there of, has developed into a full-blown crisis. Affordable rent geared income (RGI) housing stock has been in demand for years nationally, provincially and locally, with local waitlists as high as 7+ years. The situation is not improving with the rising costs of living, building supplies and demand far outweighing supply. With no affordable options available, women and children are ending up staying much longer in unsafe situations.
Housing advocacy through LCIHCS aims to bridge gaps in services, make connections for our clients, and collaborate with other service provides and programs to maintain safe housing options. Though we are not a housing organization, the needs of our clients are so centred in safe affordable housing in order to meet those needs, housing has become a focus. In 2018 we began the journey into providing four units of affordable transitional housing in our Second Stage program. In December of 2020 we purchased a building in Perth and are currently putting the finishing touches on six units of safe, rent geared to income apartments.
Through housing advocacy, we can connect our clients to services to help keep them housed and safe. Whether it be the Legal Clinic to assist with tenant rights, services in the community to off set the rising cost of housing, or services to further education and secure employment; housing at LCIHCS does not just mean a place to live, it means safety and stability to move forward in life and healing.
LCIHCS is lucky to exist in communities that genuinely care about the safe outcomes for women and children. From monetary donations, to supporting The As Good as New, support at Christmas, and the calls and inquiries of how to support, we consider ourselves so lucky to have the community support we do. Included in our advocacy are tools and tips on how to advocate for more affordable options in our communities. We have so many people who want to support, and when it comes to housing it can be very difficult to know where to begin.
Over the next 12 weeks, we will be highlighting tools for clients who may be facing challenges in housing, as well as ways for community members to get involved on our social media. Safety and stability to move forward in life and healing requires a safe space, but a part of that includes our communities. Having conversations, sharing resources, building resiliency does not have to cost a lot and can easily be done at grass root levels in all communities.
