If we’re serious about ending homelessness, we need to institute long-term solutions across all levels of government
Three years ago, I set out for clinic on the kind of morning like those we’ve been having in Toronto lately, where the hair in your nostrils freezes with each breath. I had walked about two intersections before I realized my fingers were stiff from cold – of course, I had forgotten my gloves. So…
As homes age, they should filter through various socio-economic strata. But construction approval roadblocks slow that process to a crawl
By Josef Filipowicz and Steve Lafleur The Fraser Institute The federal government’s new National Housing Strategy will benefit specific groups but doesn’t target broader affordability issues in Canada’s most expensive housing markets. The strategy includes a portable “housing benefit” of $2,500 per year, on average, to low-income households. It also proposes the construction or renovation of hundreds…
The desire to love and serve others is innate in the human spirit. And those traits can help us accomplish great things as a society
“You get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want,” said writer and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar. There’s tremendous depth to this statement and as many interpretations as there are people on the planet. It shines in direct contrast to the ideal of the rugged individualist so…
The National Housing Strategy’s $40-billion investment is good news for Canada. But the devil is in the details
At last, Canada stands with other developed nations with its new National Housing Strategy (NHS). But while this historic step forward by the federal government represents what many activists have sought for decades, is it time to rejoice? Will the staggering $40 billion promised over 10 years amend nearly a quarter of a century of federal…
Homelessness costs Canadians big money without addressing the causes
For most of his life, Murray Barr was an ordinary American. Everything changed abruptly when his story of personal tragedy and period of homelessness created a media frenzy. Malcom Gladwell, in his article Million Dollar Murray, used Murray as an example of how homelessness was costing taxpayers in Reno, Nevada, around $1 million despite Murray not…
Building structures isn't enough. But by bringing together supports and housing, we can give homes to people who struggle with health and shelter needs
By eliminating homelessness, the Alberta city has reduced the crime rate, the workload on first responders, hospital emergency visits and pressure on the courts
When new homes don't keep up with demand, buyers or renters bid for a dwindling pool of listings, pushing prices up and people out
Not having a home can be lethal – homelessness causes premature death, poor health and is a significant burden on our health-care system
Beyond a crisis of housing and poverty, homelessness is a public health emergency. The longer people are homeless, the worse their health becomes. In emergency rooms and frontline clinics, patients are triaged based on urgency. A high-quality health system would connect these efforts to a larger plan to prevent illness and keep people healthy. Unfortunately,…
By providing secure, safe housing, we are also addressing persistent health problems
As family doctors, we see and know the powerful effect proper housing has on the health of our patients. When you feel unwell, whether from a minor cold or a devastating terminal illness, the feeling of home, the desire for a safe and comfortable place to rest and recuperate is universal. But what if your…