It is a sobering reality: 1.3 million families, or more than four million Canadians, are currently living in substandard housing. With an average household income of under $20,000 - nearly 75 per cent below the national average - these men and women, mothers and fathers, are forced to make impossible choices between adequate shelter and other basic necessities of life like food, clothing,education and medical and dental expenses.

This is a national crisis and it cannot be ignored.

National Housing Day (Nov. 22nd), reminds Canadians to recognize and reflect on the issue of affordable housing. On this day, we are challenged to acknowledge that there is a real and urgent need for a solution - for a national housing policy as well as private and public partnerships that lead to capital investment and contribute to a stronger and more stable society.

Lack of affordable housing can take numerous negative tolls on individuals and the communities in which they live. It can cause increased stress, limited sense of belonging and overall feelings of insecurity. It can also negatively impact individuals' education and career paths, and further
perpetuate the cycle of poverty.

This is a sad fact, but there is hope.

Habitat for Humanity Canada is one of many organizations dedicated to finding a solution to our national housing crisis. Habitat provides safe, decent and affordable housing by giving a hand up, not a hand out. Habitat's Homeownership Program helps individuals and families in financially vulnerable situations build and buy quality affordable homes by reducing barriers to homeownership. We sell homes with no down payment, no-interest mortgages, and payments set at 30 per cent or less of the owner's gross income. Habitat also offers homeowner training and support services, giving our families access to affordable housing and helping them build equity for the future.

According to our research, safe and affordable housing can improve peoples' physical and mental health. For example, a child living in decent housing is ten times less likely to contract meningitis, asthma or respiratory complications, which effectively reduces dependency on social services.



A separate study commissioned by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, an active supporter of National Housing Day, shows that 40 per cent of families saw an improvement in their children's school grades after moving into a Habitat home. More than half of Habitat families experienced an improvement in their children's behaviour and nearly two-thirds reported an improvement in their overall well-being.


Though Habitat has successfully placed almost 1,800 Canadian families in safe and affordable homes, there is still much to be done at the national, provincial and municipal level. We need to acknowledge that this problem does in fact exist in our own backyard.

My hope is that someday there will be no need for a national day to reflect on our housing crisis. Until that day, Habitat will continue to mobilize volunteers and partners to help build and supply affordable housing so that no Canadian is forced to endure inadequate living conditions or make impossible choices. But we simply cannot do it alone. It is time for our national housing crisis to receive the attention it deserves.

--------Stewart Hardacre

President and Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity Canada