Housing affordability and homelessness emergency

Action needed:

Declare a national housing affordability & homelessness emergency and establish a national moratorium on evictions and residential arrears assistance

Homelessness and housing affordability are national emergencies which the pandemic has only made worse. It is time for Parliament to officially recognize these twin emergencies and to take action.

Recognizing these twin crises is only the first step, and the Green Party is offering solutions to help people now. We want Parliament to adopt a national moratorium on evictions during the pandemic, and to create a residential arrears assistance program to protect all those who risk being driven into homelessness due to eviction from accumulated arrears.

"Five years ago, it was already a struggle for people with low and fixed incomes to find affordable housing. Now solid middle-income earners are struggling to afford rent and will never be able to purchase homes."
Paul Manly, MP-of-record for Nanaimo-Ladysmith

You can help! Send a letter today to urge the government to start taking action.

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Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

I am writing to urge your government to declare a national affordable housing and homelessness emergency.

Canada’s National Housing Strategy Act recognizes the right to housing as a fundamental human right, and yet so many Canadians live in housing insecurity. Skyrocketing rent, low vacancy rates, living in shelters and being removed from encampments in public spaces are daily realities for many, which the pandemic has only made worse.

The time has come to face facts, and to declare a national affordable housing and homelessness emergency.

Declaring a national emergency is only the first step, and people need protection now. In addition to recognizing these twin crises, I call on you to take urgent action by:

· Establishing a national moratorium on evictions – until the pandemic is over and for a reasonable time after – in cooperation with provincial governments;
· Implementing a national residential arrears assistance program to protect people at risk of eviction due to accumulated rent arrears;
· Redefining “affordable housing” using a better, updated formula; and
· Enhancing the Canada Housing Benefit.

These solutions will allow Canadians to keep their homes. The time to act is now.

In Canada today, too many people live with the fear that their home is about to be taken away. Many live without a home.

I am asking for action. We can face these two crises head-on, and work to guarantee the human right of housing for us all.

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Housing affordability and homelessness emergency

Action needed:

Declare a national housing affordability & homelessness emergency and establish a national moratorium on evictions and residential arrears assistance

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