Kaitlin Schwan and Khulud Baig from the Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network and authors of a new report, The Pan-Canadian Women’s Housing and Homelessness Survey released Sept. 29, talk to us about the chilling results. This is the largest and first-ever national survey of women experiencing homelessness and housing need in Canada. The report includes key recommendations for governments to address the systemic barriers and issues facing this population.

Mumilaaq Qaqqaq (ᒧᒥᓛᖅ ᖃᖅᑲᖅ) is an Inuk woman and human rights defender. She was elected as an MP in 2019 but chose not to run again in the recent election. Originally from Baker Lake, Mumilaaq has worked with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., The Quality of Life Secretariat in the Government of Nunavut, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Qulliq Energy Corporation among other organizations. She fights for adequate housing, clean water and food security in the North.

Five million people in Canada didn’t know if they were going to make rent on September 1. Housing affordability and renters’ rights are key election issues—how are federal party promises faring compared to this country’s rental crisis? Hear from leading experts on affordability, evictions, and renter rights. This is the final episode of our special election series on housing and homelessness as voters in Canada head to the polls.

This election is about housing. We are joined by rights and policy experts Garima Talwar Kapoor – Maytree, Justin Marchand – CHRA Indigenous Caucus, and Ricardo Tranjan – Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. They walk us through their analysis of federal party platform commitments on housing and homelessness. This is the fourth episode of our special election series on housing and homelessness as voters in Canada head to the polls.

We’re joined by experts Leilani Farha, Eric Weissman and Zain Velji who talk to us about campaigning during a pandemic, housing and policy issues voters should consider this election. This is the third episode of our special election series on housing and homelessness as voters in Canada head to the polls.

What are some of the key election issues for people experiencing homelessness and housing precarity? What do candidates and federal parties need to get right if they’re going to solve homelessness if elected? Find out this episode and speak to folks with lived expertise. This is the second episode of our special election series on housing and homelessness as voters in Canada head to the polls.

David Le Blanc is the Assistant Director for Stakeholder Mobilization at Elections Canada, where he has been working on reducing barriers to electoral participation for Canadians for many years. He talks to us about how people with no fixed address can vote in election 44. This episode is the first of our special election series on housing and homelessness as voters in Canada head to the polls.

Mike Lethby is the Executive Director of the Niagara Resource Service for Youth (The RAFT) a not-for profit agency in the Niagara region working with youth and their families. He shares why his focus has shifted to preventing homelessness, shelter diversion, and the impacts COVID-19 has had on the sector. Born and raised in Niagara, Mike worked in the local auto sector before graduating Brock University with an honours B.A. in Political Science and History. Mike also holds a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario.

Tom Cooper serves as Director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction – a collaborative organization formed to tackle the city’s unacceptable levels of poverty. Through the roundtable’s work, Tom has engaged governments at all levels to invest in poverty reduction initiatives and worked to give people experiencing poverty a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. He talks to us about his involvement in helping to establish Ontario’s first basic income pilot.

Powered by The Home Depot Canada Foundation, TradeWorx is a collaboration of 10 successful Canadian employment social enterprises helping bridge systemic gaps and prevent youth homelessness. TradeWorx partners provide youth at-risk of homelessness with the skills training needed to secure a long-term well-paying career in the trades, resulting in the ability to afford/retain housing. Learn more from today’s guests: Emily Rowe, Sheldon Pollett, and Emmy Kelly!