December 4, 2024 · Posted by Ardelle Reynolds
Human Rights and the Unhoused
Erika Shea and Christine Porter share insights from The Village at Pine Tree Park as part of Nova Scotia Human Rights Week panel discussion
Canada is facing a significant housing crisis which has contributed to a rapid increase in the number of unhoused Canadians seeking shelter in encampments in public spaces, and using emergency and community-based services.
As communities respond to the crisis, Canada’s Federal Housing Advocate continues to urge governments to use a human rights-based approach when managing housing encampments.
At the same time, some residents and leaders feel that issues of economic development, protection of public spaces, and perceived safety concerns should take priority, advocating for the removal of encampments and services for the unhoused from public spaces and downtown areas.
In many cases these concerns are underscored by a lack of understanding of the evidence-based solutions being proposed to address the complex, nuanced issue of homelessness.
As part of Nova Scotia Human Rights Week (December 3-10), the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission hosted a panel discussion titled Human Rights and the Unhoused featuring Canada’s Federal Housing Advocate, Marie-Josée Houle, Cape Breton University professor Catherine Leviten-Reid, Erika Shea from New Dawn Enterprises and Christine Porter from the Ally Centre of Cape Breton.
Find out more about this event on the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission’s website here.
Learn about Nova Scotia Human Rights Week and all of the week’s events here.