Since 2010, World Homeless Day has been recognized on October 10 across 100 countries to give voice to the hardships and needs of people experiencing »Æ¹Ïapp—this year we join the call with our partners both locally and across the globe to ‘end »Æ¹Ïapp for good.’
“We all deserve a safe, stable place to live. But we’re not protecting this basic human need for millions of people around the world.
“It doesn’t need to be like this. Today on World Homeless Day, we stand with »Æ¹Ïapp organizations across the globe to call on all governments to take action to end »Æ¹Ïapp for good.”
This is the statement of solidarity the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness signed with our international partners , the and . And it’s because every word of it is true.
The »Æ¹Ïapp crisis seems insurmountable, but there are people around the world working together to bring it to an end. That’s what is all about—to bring the needs of homeless people to the forefront and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to the crisis.
Modern mass »Æ¹Ïapp in Canada – and everywhere it exists in the western world – is the product of policy choices our countries, provinces and communities have made. We know from experience in Canada and around the world that the unnatural disaster of »Æ¹Ïapp can be prevented and eliminated.
It doesn’t need to be like this.
The CAEH is honoured to be working with over 50 communities across Canada who are taking action on »Æ¹Ïapp. We are supporting them to apply proven approaches like Housing First, data driven decision making and collective action to transform programs, policies and systems toward the goal of ending »Æ¹Ïapp.
Through our , our program and our annual (and upcoming and likely to sell-out!) we see a growing national movement that is beginning the end of »Æ¹Ïapp in Canada one person and one community at a time.
We know »Æ¹Ïapp is a solvable problem and Canadians are taking concrete steps to get there, but we need your help.
In the National Housing Strategy the federal government made an historic promise to recognize the right to housing in Canada. Remember – federal policy change 30 years ago helped create our housing and »Æ¹Ïapp crisis. A legislated federal recognition of the right to housing will be critical to reversing it. It’s not right that 235,000 people experience »Æ¹Ïapp across Canada and over 1.7 million people are living in unaffordable, unsafe or unsuitable housing.
The time is now to solve Canada’s housing crisis and end »Æ¹Ïapp.
Join our call and write to your MP to make housing a right, visit: . Check out what legal scholars and civil society experts prepared in , offering up suggestions on how the right to housing could be incorporated into the National Housing Strategy.
There are so many ways for you to get involved in the movement too. In the conversations you have with family, friends, and colleagues, to getting involved by volunteering, voting, advocating, or donating to local service providers.
Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Advocate by contacting your elected officials and asking them to support ending »Æ¹Ïapp.
- Volunteer! World Homeless Day focuses on thinking globally and acting locally.
- Educate yourself and others by learning more about »Æ¹Ïapp and its solutions. Stay up-to-date by reading new research, check out our partners at the , which provides a lot of easily understood research resources.
- Donate to your community organizations on the frontlines of the »Æ¹Ïapp crisis.
This World Homeless Day, let’s take meaningful action to end »Æ¹Ïapp.
Join over 1,200 of your peers at the in Hamilton, November 5-7th. The National Conference on Ending Homelessness is the annual gathering of the growing movement to end »Æ¹Ïapp in Canada. Participants at CAEH18 will hear from over 200 national and international expert speakers presenting in over 77 concurrent sessions and workshops. Conference participants will also be treated to world-class keynotes, some great art and cultural opportunities and fantastic local tours and events. Ìý