Housing crisis should be front and centre in federal budget

I’ve not only seen how the housing crisis has deeply affected our community, I have and am still living it. As a handicapped 49 year old female with C.P.T.S.D. living on AISH without dependants, I am blatantly overlooked by housing subsidizers because: “you don’t have a wheelchair.” And I am not a senior. This forces me to have to try and work much more than I am actually deemed capable of and oftentimes with disastrous results! I am frequently bullied and/or harassed out of a job for being different or for being a vulnerable female. How is it that housing providers are allowed to freely discriminate like that?! More and more people are being pushed into homelessness, and it feels like everyone is falling behind. We have to turn things around, and we have an opportunity in front of us with the upcoming federal budget on November 4th.

The only way to unlock Canada’s full economic potential is if our governments take leadership to end homelessness and solve the housing crisis once and for all. Recently the federal government announced Build Canada Homes, including a $1 billion investment in supportive and transitional housing. This is an important first step, but the scale of our housing and homelessness crisis demands a more robust response. We need a system that works for everyone, especially in the wake of Trump’s trade war and the uncertainty that so many are facing.

Bold action and even bolder commitments and investments can shape a future where everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home. I know that’s possible, but people in our community have to come together and show our federal representatives that this Budget is our chance to create lasting change and put an end to the housing and homelessness crisis.

I’m encouraging readers to join me. Raise your voice for a bold 2025 Federal Budget that prioritizes action on homelessness and housing. We can’t wait any longer. You can go to https://action.caeh.ca/budget_25 to learn more & take action.

Bailey Larroquette

Coutts