Today is the National Housing Day. Canada declared homelessness a national disaster in 1998. After two years, November 22 was declared National Housing Day. We also use the day to appreciate the efforts of the government and other concerned organizations in eradicating homelessness.
Image from homelesshub.ca
Housing helps us stay employed, do better in school and participate more fully in society. Housing plays a critical role in our lives, affecting everything from our employment prospects to our educational attainment. Despite its importance, housing is often taken for granted.
The truth is that our housing situation has a profound impact on our overall well-being. Having a safe and stable place to call home is essential to leading a productive and successful life.
Pre-2020, finding housing which suited the needs of our women and their families could present the odd challenge, but with a little creative problem solving for the most part it could be attainable. That is no longer the case. Affordability is not just impacting those on social assistance either, with the rise of interest rates and the various impacts of inflation, it seems as though most people are feeling the burden.
LCIHCS has always worked to address the barriers women face when leaving violence and we could not ignore the need for housing. Our shelter services are a temporary solution for women who are fleeing violence and is modeled around a 12-week period to allow a woman and her family to find alternative housing options. Over the last 3 years we have seen women’s stays in the shelter swell to close to a year, our clients in transitional housing have faced similar delays and dilemmas. Most of the private market options are simply too expensive and the wait lists for Rent Gear to Income units are quite long. Women are staying longer in unsafe situations, or returning to them because they simply cannot afford to support their families on their own.
From transitional housing to more permanent options, our programs have expanded and continue to have waitlists for all units. This past year saw the opening of our Beyond Second Stage housing in Perth where we have 6 Rent Geared to Income units which range in size from 1 bedroom – 3 bedrooms as well as a barrier free unit. Our transitional housing in Carleton Place is a safe place to land for women who have moved past the needs of the shelter but are still requiring a certain amount of security and support. Though we continue to do what we can to address how to support our clients’ lived experiences, there are more clients who needs permanent, affordable housing options in Lanark County than we could ever imagine being able to serve.
As the housing crisis persists, all levels of government are working on plans and policies. Though they are working to address some of the barriers and issues, these plans and policies take time to implement, and the time to implement strategies around house were years ago.
