Housing need in Canada: Healthy lives start at home

Question 1

What percentage of households in Canada live in substandard conditions or in housing need?

Answer 1

1/3 of households

Question 2

What are additional factors that may lead to housing need?

Answer 2

1. Infestations
2. Poor water and air quality
3. Unsafe neighbourhoods
4. Unstable housing, leading to frequent moves
5. Use of temporary housing
6. Inaccessibility for family members with a disability

Question 3

What is the definition of inadequate housing?

Answer 3

In need of major repairs

Question 4

What is the definition of unsuitable housing (crowded)?

Answer 4

Fails to meet the National Occupancy Standard requirements for number of bedrooms for the size and make-up of the household

Question 5

What is the definition of unaffordable housing?

Answer 5

30% or more of gross household income spent on shelter costs

Question 6

What is the definition of unacceptable housing?

Answer 6

Does not meet at least one of the standards of adequacy, suitability and affordability

Question 7

What is the definition of core housing need?

Answer 7

Unacceptable housing and household would have to spend 30% or more of their gross household income to access acceptable housing in their community

Question 8

What risks are associated with inadequate and crowded housing?

Answer 8

1. Aggressive behaviors
2. Property offenses
3. Diminished school performance
4. Asthma symptoms
5. Diminished overall health status
6. Poor air quality
7. Lead exposure
8. Exposure to health hazards
9. Increased injury risks

Question 9

What are the risks of crowded housing?

Answer 9

1. Faster spread of communicable diseases
2. Psychological distress
3. Helplessness
4. Poor school performance

Question 10

What are the risks of unaffordable housing?

Answer 10

1. Hunger
2. Food insecurity
3. Inadequate childhood nutrition

Question 11

What are the risks of unstable housing?

Answer 11

1. Emotional problems
2. Repeating a grade
3. Suspension or expulsion from school
4. Poor access to health care

Question 12

What are the risks of inaccessible housing?

Answer 12

1. Reduced independence
2. Reduced mobility
3. Poor self esteem
4. Higher rates of unintentional injuries

Question 13

How many First Nations homes in Canada do not have running water in 2011?

Answer 13

> 1800

Question 14

How many First Nations reserves in Canada in 2006 had drinking water systems that posed potential health risks?

Answer 14

2/3

Question 15

How many First Nations communities were under boil water advisories in 2006?

Answer 15

76

Question 16

What percentage of children presenting to pediatric emergency departments live in housing need?

Answer 16

53-54%

Question 17

How many Canadians had experienced homelessness or extremely insecure housing at some point in the previous five years?

Answer 17

1.3 million

Question 18

Which populations are at higher risk for housing need?

Answer 18

1. First Nations
2. Inuit
3. Recent immigrant (<5y)
4. Lone-parent-led households
5. Visible minority households
6. Children with disabilities

Question 19

What percentage of Canadian children were living in poverty in 2010?

Answer 19

14.5%
51.2% of lone-mother-led households
48% of recent immigrants
25% of First Nations children

Question 20

What is the Ottawa Child/Youth Housing Advocacy initiative screening questionnaire for assessment of housing need?

Answer 20

Introductory questions:

1. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being a difficult living situation and 10 being an ideal living situation), how would you rate where you are living now?
2. What would you like to make better about where you are living?

Screening questions (HOME):

Harm: Is your home in need of major repairs?

Occupancy: How many people live in your home, in how many rooms?

Moves: How many times has your child or youth moved? Have you used a shelter or informal, temporary housing such as staying with friends or family?

Enough/Income: Do you have enough money for housing, food and utilities?

Question 21

What should collaborative actions involve?

Answer 21

1. Local governments, provincial/territorial ministries of housing and health, the federal departments involved with housing, health, social services and education, as well as community groups, local health and housing authorities, and health and housing professionals.
2. Strategies at each governmental level and across sectors to ensure safe, adequate, accessible, suitable and affordable housing for all children, youth and families in Canada.
3. Housing-supportive policies based on accurate information about the state of housing and housing need, and specifically informed by the health impacts of housing on children and youth. To achieve this, the federal government must reinstate the mandatory long-form questionnaire as part of the national census. Accurate data, including the number and demographics of households waiting for subsidized housing in Canada, must exist to develop and implement an effective national housing strategy.

Question 22

What should HCP do?

Answer 22

1. Advocate for improved housing as a key determinant of child and youth health, both nationally and within their own communities.
2. Ask about the housing status of families in their care, to better understand their health issues and ability to access and engage in health care.
3. Make sure that families they see are aware of the potential health effects of housing need and help them make informed housing choices.
4. Be aware of local resources to which they can refer youth and families experiencing housing need.
5. Consider writing letters for youth and families experiencing housing need and related health effects, to help them gain access to safe, adequate, accessible, suitable and affordable housing.

Question 23

What are research priorities?

Answer 23

1. Building knowledge around the causes of housing need in Canada and specific impacts on child and youth health.
2. Identifying housing needs for specific geographical regions and populations, and evaluating the efficacy of targeted housing intervention strategies on health outcomes and health costs.
3. Validating housing need screening and assessment tools.
4. Developing comprehensive lists of local resources for use by health care providers and the families they see.