In 2019, Parliament passed the National Housing Strategy Act, which recognizes housing as a human right and commits the federal government to further the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing.
The Act requires the Government of Canada to maintain a national housing strategy to improve housing outcomes for those in greatest need. The Act establishes accountability tools to help advance and monitor the right to housing in Canada, including:
- a Federal Housing Advocate, to promote and protect the right to housing in Canada
- a National Housing Council, to oversee the implementation of the strategy (of which the Advocate is an ex officio member)
- review panels to hold hearings on systemic housing issues at the request of the Advocate
The National Housing Council's duties include promoting participation and inclusion in the development of housing policy, providing advice to the Minister responsible for housing on how to improve housing outcomes, and offering advice on the effectiveness of the national housing strategy to the Minister. The Act states that members of the council should include people who are members of vulnerable groups, have lived experience of housing need or homelessness, reflect the diversity of Canadian society, and who have expertise in human rights.
The Act recognizes the need to focus government efforts on the needs of “members of vulnerable groups, persons with lived experience of housing need and persons with lived experience of homelessness.” This includes:
- Indigenous people
- adults and children fleeing domestic violence
- seniors
- people who identify as 2SLGBTQQIA+
- people with disabilities, including disabilities related to mental health or addiction
- veterans
- young adults
- members of racialized groups
- recent immigrants and refugees
The Advocate recognizes that women and gender-diverse people within each of these groups are disproportionately affected by housing need.
The Federal Housing Advocate is housed at and supported by the Canadian Human Rights Commission. In line with the Act and the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing, the Federal Housing Advocate will put particular focus on those with the greatest housing need while Canada works towards achieving adequate housing for all.