Housing
Housing overview
Housing is a fundamental human right, but for about 1.7 million households in Canada, housing that is affordable, in decent shape and suitable for them or their families is simply not available. When people can’t access housing that meets their needs, the impacts ripple throughout their lives, the economy, and our communities.
Maytree works with civil society, people with lived experience of homelessness and housing need, and governments at all levels to improve the housing system and ensure everyone in Canada has a place to call home.
As with our work on poverty, we look to find solutions to homelessness and housing need using a human rights approach. We work on advancing solutions that will further the recognition and protection of housing as a human right, contribute to the progressive realization of this right, prioritize those in greatest need, pave the way for accountability mechanisms, and include ongoing and active participation of those with lived experience of homelessness and inadequate housing at all stages of decision-making.
Our work on housing includes shaping and sharing policy ideas, investing in innovative solutions, and supporting partners working to strengthen communities.
Relevant publications
Published on 18/12/2019
We have seen time and again that even the best-laid policy plans are only as good as their implementation. For the right to housing to be fulfilled, we will have to mind this (implementation) gap.
Without doubt, 2019 has been a historic year for the right to housing in Canada. For the first time ever, we have federal legislation recognizing housing as a fundamental human right. And the City of Toronto has just passed Canada’s first municipal housing and homelessness plan based on the right to housing, developed together with […]
Published on 01/11/2019
Comments delivered at a forum for the Wellesley Institute's Solutions Lab on healthy housing quality.
This speech was delivered on October 28, 2019 at a forum for the Wellesley Institute’s Solutions Lab on healthy housing quality. Thank you for the invitation to share some thoughts at the beginning of what will be an important conversation, one that will hopefully have an impact on health and wellbeing through quality housing. When […]
Published on 30/07/2019
This new report examines possible parameters for Toronto's new inclusionary zoning policy and offers recommendations to maximize the benefits of such a policy.
Download the report (PDF) The City of Toronto is currently designing an inclusionary zoning (IZ) policy that would require affordable housing units to be included in new developments across the city. The policy is a way to address the lack of affordable rental supply in Toronto’s housing market. To inform the parameters of its IZ […]
Published on 26/07/2019
Submission by Maytree to the City of Toronto Housing Secretariat regarding the development of HousingTO
Submission to the City of Toronto’s consultation on HousingTO Download the submission (PDF) Over the course of 2019, the City of Toronto is developing HousingTO, an action plan to address the city’s housing and homelessness challenges over the next decade. Maytree’s submission to HousingTO is focused on how the City can implement a human rights-based […]
Published on 09/05/2019
Oral presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance regarding Bill C-97, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2019 and other measures
Remarks on proposed amendments to the National Housing Strategy Act Oral presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance regarding Bill C-97, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2019 and other measures May 8, 2018 Good evening. My name is Elizabeth McIsaac, and I […]
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Published on 09/05/2019
Maytree submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance regarding Bill C-97, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2019 and other measures
Maytree submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance regarding Bill C-97, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2019 and other measures In our submission, Maytree offered comments and recommended amendments to Bill C-97. Our comments were specific to Division 19 to enact the […]