Bridging Perspectives and Balancing Priorities: New Directions for Housing Policy in Canada

In this paper, we outline three genealogies of housing policy in Canada—affordable housing, mental health housing, and housing for homeless persons—and present the focus, research, and strengths/critiques of these genealogies. The increased visibility and adoption of Housing First (HF) in Canadian policy has created tension between groups working on housing and homelessness. Critics rightly point out that HF does little to increase the availability and accessibility of affordable housing. We discuss the homelessness sector as a bridge between the affordable housing sector and the mental health sector and outline how collaboration might take shape in addressing homelessness and affordable housing in Canada.

Publication Date: 
2016
Volume: 
35
Issue: 
3
Journal Name: 
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health