Tomorrow is “V-day” – the day that Members of Parliament vote on a bill for a national housing strategy. Known as Bill C-400, this bill has been around the block through parliament before (formerly known as C-304 under the previous government), and now presents an opportunity for MPs to choose to end homelessness and create a plan to ensure that all people living in Canada have adequate housing.
Organizations across the country are in support of C-400 and have joined Dignity for All in sharing that enthusiasm with their networks and local representatives. This groundswell of support has gotten some media attention, which demonstrates that a national conversation on the federal role in housing is underway. Just in the past four days the following news stories have been posted:
- CWP Executive Director, Leilani Farha, posted a blog on Rabble, “Can we talk about this? Bill C-400 and Ending Homelessness in Canada”
- CWP Board Member Peter Thurley wrote an article in the Waterloo newspaper The Record
- The Hamilton Spectator featured an article by Legal Clinic Lawyer Craig Foye about the housing Charter challenge currently in the courts
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba Office had an Op-Ed in the Winnnipeg Free Press “Canada’s homeless showing”
- Right to Housing Coalition held a press conference today and CBC picked up the story, “Homeless Advocates See Hope in Federal Bill”
This is just an example of the support that is surfacing for Bill C-400.
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Today was also the launch of the YWCA’s “Homes for Women” Campaign. CWP Board President Harriett McLachlan and Executive Director Leilani Farha joined concerned Members of Parliament and YWCA representatives at the campaign launch in Ottawa.
In the press release, the YWCA noted that in a poll showed that 50% of Canadians were unaware of the extent of women’s homelessness. The campaign website states that,
“In large cities, 25-30% of people living on the streets and in homeless shelters are women, and the majority of women’s homelessness isn’t visible. Women couch surf with friends or relatives to avoid the street. Women — including teenage girls — trade sex with men for a place to crash for the night. Every year, 75,000-100,000 women and children leave their homes for the temporary safety of a shelter for abused women.”
Visit the Homes for Women website to see how you can get involved.
