Dianne Himbeault is a professional planner with over 25 years of experience. She has been with CMHC for more than 10 years in a variety of roles and is currently an Outreach Specialist promoting the National Housing Strategy. We talk about the role communities play and the National Housing Co-Investment Fund. This On the Way Home episode was brought to you by the good people at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

The National Right to Housing Network is dedicated to the progressive realization of the right to housing in Canada, and its meaningful implementation. What does a realized right to housing in Canada look like and what barriers are standing in the way? Learn more about it by listening to this conversation with the network’s Michèle Biss and Sahar Raza.

Melanie Redman is the co-founder, President & CEO of A Way Home Canada, a national coalition reimagining solutions to youth homelessness through transformations in policy, planning and practice. A Way Home Canada has inspired communities and countries around the world to adopt the A Way Home brand as a way to participate in a growing international movement for change. Melanie also leads the National Learning Community on Youth Homelessness in Canada.

Juha Kaakinen is Chief Executive of Y-Foundation, the biggest Finnish NGO providing housing for homeless people and social housing with a housing stock of 18,000 flats. He is internationally known as a passionate advocate of Housing First policy. Finland and Helsinki have made bold commitments to end all homelessness in the next few years, find out why Juha says they can and will make it happen.

The 2021 National Conference on Ending Homelessness, happening Nov. 3-4, will arm policy makers, funders, researchers, advocates, community leaders and front line workers with the inspiration, information, tools and training they need to end homelessness. October 28 is the last day to register and participate. Hear from Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness President & CEO, Tim Richter, to learn more about it and the exciting #PandemciHeroes video contest!

United Way Greater Toronto released two reports on social capital. The studies assess how much residents trust their neighbours and institutions; how extensive and satisfying their social connections are; how civically engaged they are; and how they feel about their safety and services. While the results are encouraging, social capital is inequitably distributed: those with lower incomes and less financial security face greater barriers. We hear from UWGT’s Christine Hill and Isabel Cascante.

Dr. Naheed Dosani is a palliative care physician who cares for homeless and vulnerably housed individuals with dignity and compassion, whether in a shelter or on the street. A transformative experience providing care to a Toronto homeless man at the end of his life motivated him to develop Palliative Education And Care for the Homeless (PEACH). The program provides community-based hospice palliative care to people regardless of their housing status or factors such as poverty or substance use.

The Housing Professionals Mentorsip Program is a CSAE award-winning program designed to provide education, mentorship, and networking opportunities for the housing leaders of today and tomorrow. It’s designed to foster innovation and growth in the sector. Hear from Jacob Gorenkoff from the Canadian Housing & Renewal Association, and Mary Clarke from the Chartered Institute of Housing Canada.

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.