HKR

3400:
HOUSING
Gillian Batten, BREC,
MHS, CTRS
June 15, 2023
 Overview

Why Housing
Housing &
Housing Is Important
Health to Health?

The State of Policy

Housing Implications
It would hardly seem necessary to
argue the case that housing—and
homelessness in particular—are
health issues, yet surprisingly few
Canadian studies have considered it
as such.
– Toba Bryant, 2016
Housing

■ Housing is widely recognized as one due to

its significant impact on individuals' well-
being and overall health outcomes.

■ The SDOH framework acknowledges that

various non-medical factors, including
housing, play a crucial role in shaping health
outcomes and health disparities.
Housing

In 1845, Fredrick Engels made the link In 1986, the World Health Organization
between adequate housing and adverse recognized shelter as a perquisite for health
health outcomes

(Raphael, 2016)
Housing

■ Between 25,000 and 35,000 people are homeless every

night in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2023).

■ Almost 1.5 million Canadian households lived in “core

housing need” in 2021, defined as living in an unsuitable,
inadequate or unaffordable dwelling and unable to afford
alternative housing in their community (Statistics Canada,
2021).

■ It is estimated that at least 235,000 Canadians access

homeless emergency services or sleep outside in a given
year (Homeless Hub, 2015).
Housing

■ In the decade starting in the 1980’s, a yearly average of 11 out of every 100 new
homes was affordable in Canada.

■ In the decade ending in 2007, the yearly average slipped to less than 1 in 100.

■ Looking at Ontario.
– The average sale price for a home in January 2022 nearly broke the $1 million
mark, at $998,629, which is a 25.6 percent annual increase.
– In Toronto, the average home price saw a 28 percent year-over-year increase,
with the median home selling for a whopping $1.242 million.
Housing in NL

■ In March of 2022, housing security advocates say without systemic changes to

secure long-term housing solutions, an unprecedented homelessness crisis could
be on the horizon for Newfoundland and Labrador.

■ End Homelessness St. John's executive director says current supports are
insufficient to secure housing for low-income earners and people on fixed incomes.

■ Drastic changes in the housing market over the past eight months, compounded
with rising food and fuel costs, are making long-term housing
increasingly inaccessible. He said solutions currently in place, like emergency
shelters, are not the long-term fixes people need.

(CBC, 2022)
Housing

■ According to Toba Bryant, of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, and

Michael Shapcott of the Wesley Institute:
– “ The roots of this crisis lie in the federal, provincial, and territorial
governments decisions to cut funding and programs for new social housing
and cancel programs over the past three decades, which set the stage for the
nation-wide housing crisis and homelessness disaster.

(Raphael, 2016)
 ■ I want each group to write a one-page letter
to someone in our government (you can
decide who).

Class Activity ■ What factors influence the housing crisis in

Canada, and how are they related to health?

■ What do you think the government can do to

help?
 Many studies show that poor quality housing and
homelessness are clear threats to the health of
Canadians
Housing is a necessity for living.

Why Is Housing relates to a healthy lifestyle.

Housing
Important? Unaffordable or insecure housing increases the
risk of many health problems.

What do you think the main reason is for many

Canadians experiencing housing problems?

(Bryant, 2009)
Why Is Housing Important?

Housing is a public policy issue.

Canada has signed international human rights

agreements that guarantee provision of shelter (however
Canada is seen as not fulfilling these commitments).

(Bryant, 2009)
 1/3 2016
of households in Canada live in In the State of Homelessness in
substandard conditions or in Canada 2016 report, it was
housing need. estimated that at least 235,000
Canadians experience
homelessness each year.

Housing
In 2023, as many as 1.3 millions
Canadians had experienced
homelessness or extremely
insecure housing.

2023
Housing

The number of Canadians who experience homelessness on any

given night in Canada is estimated to be minimally 25,000- 35,000
In 2021 there were 15,185 emergency shelter beds & 437
shelters.
Occupancy rates at shelters have increased from 82 % beds full in
2005, to 92.4% beds full in 2014.
The duration of stays beyond 30 days have also increased, from 9.1
% in 2005 to 12% in 2014.

(Statistics Canada, 2021)

Housing & Health
■ People experience different environments depending on
their housing quality.

■ Think of overcrowding, this allows for transmission of

respiratory and other illnesses

■ Some homes, especially those on Aboriginal reserves,

lack the basics (clean water, basic sanitation).

■ Housing provides a platform for self-identity and freedom.

■ Housing costs reduce the resources available for the

SDoH.
 ■ Presence of lead & mold
■ Poor heating
■ Draft

Adverse ■ Inadequate ventilation

■ Vermin
Health ■ Overcrowding

Outcomes ■ Living on the streets

■ Ex: Dampness causes respiratory illness

and can make pre-existing conditions
worse.`
Why is Housing Important to Health?

Having shelter from the elements of the outside world is fundamental to human
existence.

The quality of our shelter then has effects on our health.

Safe housing allows individuals an environment to carryout their lives.

Self-identify/self-expression.

(Raphael, 2016)
Why is Housing Important to
Health?
■ A UK study explored how heating and dampness influence health:
– ¼ could not afford the heat they would have liked.

– Dampness was contributing to respiratory illnesses.

– Children who lived in damp homes and increased risk of

wheezing and chesty coughs.

– Various symptoms of respiratory illness in Adults and

Children who lived in damp/ moldy conditions.

(Raphael, 2016)
Why is Housing Important to
Health?
■ In another UK study: Home Sweet Home: The impact of poor
housing on health:
– 13, 000 citizens, poor housing conditions during childhood
played a significant and independent role in determining
health outcomes

– The worse the conditions, the greater degree of severe or

moderate illness.

(Raphael, 2016)
 The most drastic housing connection
to health is homelessness.

More likely to experience physical and

mental health problems.

Why is Homeless people die younger.

Housing
Important to Homeless people experience high
levels of;

Health? • Alcohol/Substance abuse

• Respiratory disease
• Mental health problems
• Prone to suicide
• Accidents
• Violence

(Raphael, 2016)
Indigenous Populations & Housing

■ Indigenous populations comprise a disproportionately large share of

those experiencing homelessness or living in substandard conditions.

■ These challenges are rooted in a complex history of colonization,

displacement, cultural preservation, and socio-economic factors. Here
are some key points to consider.
 ■ Approximately 3 million women live in
poverty in Canada.

Women, ■ Single woman-led families are among the

Children & poorest in the country.

Housing ■ Canada’s housing crisis and homelessness

disaster also puts women and children at
risk.

(Raphael, 2016)
Housing Insecurity

■ Renters, women, immigrants and Indigenous people experience

housing insecurity.
– Renters at 26/4 % compared to owners.
– Female lone-parent households and female single households
– Off-reserve indigenous renters (34.7%)
– Immigrant households. (29.6%)
– Senior renters (28.9%)
– Indigenous lone-parent households had the highest incidence at
(51.8%)
– Non-indigenous lone-parent households (40.6%)

(Raphael, 2016)
The State of Housing

■ Affordable housing can be defined as: housing that costs less than 30% of before-
tax household income.
■ Significant amount of Canadians experience difficulty affording housing.
■ Tenants in Canadian cities are spending more then 30% of their income on rent.
– Vancouver 43%
– Toronto 42%
– Montreal 36%
■ Tenants spending 50 %-putting them at risk if imminent homelessness.
– Vancouver 22%
– Toronto 20%
– Montreal 18%

(Raphael, 2016)
Policy Implications

■ Housing policy need to be more explicitly linked to comprehensive income, public health and health
services policy.

■ Housing policy must make affordable and quality housing available for all Canadians.

■ The federal government must increase funding for social housing programs targeted for low-income
Canadians.

■ Public support and advocacy is needed to create the political will to establish housing initiatives.

(Bryant, 2009)
QUESTIONS?