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In a stark warning, Canada’s federal housing advocate, Marie-Josée Houle, has declared that tent encampments across the nation reveal the dire state of the country’s housing and homelessness system. Her newly released report, titled Upholding Dignity and Human Rights, calls for urgent and coordinated action from all levels of government to address what she describes as a “life and death crisis.”
Houle, who launched a review into homeless encampments in February 2023, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that tent encampments are a “physical manifestation” of a broken system. Her report estimates that 20 to 25 percent of homeless individuals in Canada are living in such conditions, affecting both urban centers and rural areas, including northern Saskatchewan, Labrador, and Nunavut.
“It’s an issue of life and death for a lot of people. We need immediate action and long-term solutions,” Houle told CBC News.
The housing crisis, however, is not an isolated issue. The broader context of Canada’s immigration policy further exacerbates the situation. As noted by economist Mike Moffatt and reflected in the recent Bank of Canada Monetary Policy Report for July 2024, Canada is grappling with the consequences of a rapidly growing population fueled by high levels of immigration, including non-permanent residents (NPRs). The report underscores the challenges of integrating newcomers into an economy where labor markets are softening, housing supply is insufficient, and consumer spending has stalled.
The Bank of Canada highlighted that the share of NPRs in Canada’s population has risen to 6.8 percent, far exceeding the government’s target of reducing this to five percent within three years. This increase is occurring despite the government’s intention to cap international student visas, raising concerns about the sustainability of current immigration levels. The Bank warned that achieving the target would require a drastic reduction in NPR inflows by 70 to 80 percent over the next three years.
This surge in immigration, coupled with a strained housing market, has led to a decline in GDP per capita and a sharp rise in unemployment among newcomers, currently standing at 11.6 percent. The pressure on housing is evident not only in rising costs but also in the proliferation of encampments as people struggle to find affordable and safe places to live.
Mark Wilson, a housing advocate from St. John’s, pointed out that many people choose to live in tents rather than in shelters due to safety concerns and unsanitary conditions. “There’s a reason that people are still here, and whatever that reason is, they believe it’s better than what they’re being offered,” Wilson said.
In St. John’s, a tent encampment outside the Confederation Building has drawn attention to the growing crisis. Wilson highlighted the importance of providing basic necessities, noting that the city briefly closed public washrooms in Bannerman Park, where some of the encampment’s residents were staying, citing vandalism concerns. The decision was reversed after public outcry, but Wilson emphasized that such measures should never have been necessary.
“People need water, people need food, people need heat. These are basic human rights,” he said. “We had to fight for bathrooms here. That kind of thing just shouldn’t happen.”
Houle’s report calls for a national conversation on homelessness and housing, driven by the voices of those who have experienced homelessness. She expressed hope that her recommendations would lead to meaningful change.
“It’s not about politics. It is about saving lives. And lives matter,” Houle said. “Canada has to have something in place to make sure that this is no longer what people are choosing.”
The report has been submitted to federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser, who is required to respond in writing by June 12, according to the National Housing Strategy Act.
As Canada navigates the intertwined challenges of housing, homelessness, and immigration, the need for coordinated government action and long-term solutions becomes ever more urgent. The growing crisis of tent encampments across Canada underscores the consequences of inaction and the importance of addressing the root causes of these issues.
