Housing
The Migrant Action Centre is issuing this policy statement to demand immediate action from all levels of government to address the housing crisis affecting vulnerable communities across Canada.
Housing is a fundamental human right, and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that every person has access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing. Unfortunately, we are witnessing a nationwide housing crisis, with many people struggling to find affordable housing and being forced into precarious housing situations. This is particularly true for migrant and refugee communities, who are often subjected to discrimination and exploitation in the housing market.
We demand that all levels of government immediately take the following actions:
Increase the availability of affordable housing: The government must invest in building new affordable housing units, incentivize landlords to offer affordable rents, and put in place rent controls to prevent rent increases that displace vulnerable residents.
Invest in shelters and supportive housing: The government must provide adequate funding to existing shelters and increase the availability of supportive housing to help those who are unhoused or in precarious housing situations.
Support vulnerable groups: The government must provide targeted support for vulnerable groups, including migrants and refugees, who are often excluded from existing housing policies.
Decriminalize homelessness: The government must stop criminalizing homelessness and end the practice of displacing and harassing people who are homeless.
In addition to these immediate actions, we propose the following policy changes to address the housing crisis in Canada:
Implement a vacancy tax on unoccupied homes: The government should implement a tax on unoccupied homes to encourage landlords to rent out their properties, rather than leaving them empty.
Increase funding for social housing: The government must increase funding for social housing and prioritize the needs of low-income families and vulnerable groups.
Implement a rent-to-income ratio: The government should put in place a rent-to-income ratio to ensure that no individual or family is paying more than 30% of their income on rent.
Invest in tenant protections: The government must implement stronger tenant protections, including rent control and measures to prevent evictions.
As a society, we cannot continue to ignore the plight of those who are most vulnerable. We call on all levels of government to take urgent and decisive action to address the housing crisis in Canada. Failure to do so will only result in continued suffering and hardship for the most vulnerable members of our society.
We urge all levels of government to work with grassroots organizations, including the Migrant Action Centre, to implement these changes and to build a society that prioritizes the needs of its most vulnerable members.
