Strait Richmond Housing Matter Coalition Municipal Election Booklet

Housing is a Municipal Election Issue October 2020 Publication designed and compiled by Celeste Gotell and Janelle AuCoin, Health Promotion, Mental Health and Addictions, Nova Scotia Health

September 22, 2020 Housing and Homelessness is an Election Issue in Richmond County and the Strait Area Dear Candidate, Congratulations on becoming a candidate for the Municipality of the County of Richmond or the Town of Port Hawkesbury 2020 Municipal Election. Municipal government is often most aware of issues in our communities and can be most responsive to residents’ needs and concerns. The services and supports provided by our local government are greatly appreciated. The Strait Richmond Housing Matters Coalition (SRHMC) wants to take this opportunity to share with you some of our concerns about the lack of affordable and suitable housing and homelessness in our area. At times, the lack of housing options in our communities is misunderstood and often hidden. Housing issues in our communities manifest in a number of ways. Youth couch surf at friends’ homes, people live in overcrowded accommodations, seniors remain in hospitals awaiting placements in nursing homes, people live in tents, people live in interim housing (e.g., motels) or in homes without access to electricity, water, heat and other basic amenities. The availability of affordable and accessible housing is a basic human right in Canada, but we know community members struggle to find affordable, safe and suitable housing. The SRHMC understands the importance of and values our municipal government working cooperatively with both federal and provincial governments, community organizations and private enterprise to support the development of new affordable homes, rent supplements, emergency shelters and much needed housing repairs for people who live on low income. Communities across Nova Scotia are grappling with many complex issues, including housing needs and homelessness. Issues related to affordable housing and homelessness are often framed as urban issues. However, there is a growing understanding of these challenges in rural communities across Canada. The experience of housing insecurity and homelessness in rural communities may differ from an urban experience in terms of reduced anonymity; less access to healthy, safe and appropriate housing options; and fewer supports and resources. The SRHMC formed in December 2018 after a concerned group of citizens came together following the October 2018 Community Think Tank – Housing Matters. The Coalition is comprised of individuals and members of organizations that represent a wide spectrum of Page 1|2

housing interests including, but not limited to, community health and social service organizations and municipal representatives. The Coalition strives to attract and retain a multi- sectoral and culturally diverse membership. We envision having inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. In keeping with the Coalition’s commitment to inspiring dialogue and ongoing learning, we partnered with the StFX Extension Department and the Antigonish Affordable Housing Society to host a People’s School on Housing in May 2019. In Richmond County and in the Strait Area, there are many unique housing issues. There is no distinct community-based not-for-profit organization with a sole mandate to address housing and there is no dedicated housing for persons with mental health issues, such as Supported Housing for Individuals with Mental Illness in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. While there is a women’s transition house, Leeside Transition House, there are no emergency shelters for men or youth. Appropriate rental housing for persons with disabilities is also scarce. Port Hawkesbury has a shortage of student housing to accommodate NSCC students. There is also a long waiting list in both Richmond County and Port Hawkesbury for seniors’ public housing and there is a limited number of affordable housing units for seniors who wish to remain in their communities. As a candidate in the upcoming municipal election, over the next several weeks, the SRHMC will send you housing-related information for the Strait Area and Richmond County. We will also circulate this information widely in the region and we will encourage residents to engage you in a discussion of these issues. The SRHMC will connect with elected coucilors to discuss how we can support each other’s efforts to address housing issues in our communities. These are challenging times, but with strong and dedicated local councils and a spirit of collaboration we can work toward providing safe, healthy and affordable homes for the residents of Richmond County and the Strait Area. The SRHMC thanks you for your public service, we wish you the best in your campaign, and we look forward to working with you to address the housing needs of our communities. For more information, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]. Sincerely, The Strait Richmond Housing Matters Coalition Page 2|2

Housing is a Municipal Election Issue Who is the We envision inclusive, healthy, Strait Richmond affordable, sustainable, and Housing Matters Coalition? accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. Vision: Inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing is available in Strait Richmond communities. Mission: Explore and facilitate housing options to address the diverse housing needs in Strait Richmond communities. Values: As an organization we believe in being: Community based Inclusive Accountable Collaborative Innovative About the Coalition: The Coalition began in December 2018 after a concerned group of citizens interested in housing came together following the October 2018 Community Think Tank – Housing Matters. There two co-chairs and secretarial support is been provided by Public Health, Nova Scotia Health. Membership: The coalition is comprised of individuals and members of organizations that represent a wide spectrum of housing related interests including, but not limited to, community health and social service organizations and municipal representatives. The Coalition strives to attract and retain a multi-sectoral and culturally diverse membership. The Core Membership is represented by several sectors of our communities including, government, health, finance, child welfare, victims of family violence, seniors, persons with disabilities, community advocates, etc. For more information:  [email protected]

Did Y We envision inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. In sta plac O sign th Thro Can For more information: [email protected] Source: World Health Organization. (1986). The Ottawa Charter for Health http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/ottawa/en/W Canadian Housing and Renewal Association. (2019). Right to Housing is N What? https://chra-achru.ca/blog_article/right-to-housing-is-now-law-in-

You Know? Housing is a Municipal Election Issue n 1986 the World Health Organization ated that having stable housing and a ce to call home is a basic human need. On June 21, 2019, the Governor General ned into law Bill C-97, which contained he “National Housing Strategy Act”. ough this legislation, the Government of nada legally recognized an explicit right to housing for its residents. h Promotion. WHO. Now Law in Canada: So Now -canada-so-now-what-2/

Did Y We envision inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. In p For more information: [email protected] Source: 2016 Census Profile for Electorial Ridings https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census

You Know? Housing is a Municipal Election Issue Rural housing and homelessness challenges, and solutions, are different than those experienced in urban communities. Housing challenges are often compounded by a lack of public transportation and transportation costs. n rural areas, homelessness is less visible because people are more likely to be living in overcrowded or unsafe housing, rather than on the street. There are fewer options for safe and affordable housing, fewer shelters, and fewer rental units in rural communities.

Did Y We envision inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. For more information: [email protected] Source: Health Policy Brief. (2018). Culture of Health: Housing and Health: Health Affairs. World Health Organizations (2012). Risk to Mental Health:

You Know? Housing is a Municipal Election Issue Housing is described as unaffordable when housing costs are 30% or more of a household’s income and when there is no housing available at lower costs in the community, in which someone wishes to live. This means that for some people they are forced to live in poor quality housing that has many safety and quality issues or they may be forced for live with many people, resulting in over-crowding : An Overview of the Literature.

Did Y We envision inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. Living cond Indivi o hig self low lon low For more information:                  [email protected]                                            Source: Maqbool et al., 2015. The Impacts of Affordable Housing on Health Retrieved from: https://www.rupco.org/wpcontent/ uploads/pdfs

You Know? Housing is a Municipal Election Issue g in unsafe, unstable and crowded living ditions = poor mental health outcomes. iduals who experience housing insecurity or homelessness are at greater risk of: gh levels of stress f-harm, isolation, substance abuse and suicide w self-esteem and self-loathing neliness, feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness wer life expectancy than the general population h: A Research Summary.

Housing is a Municipal Election Issue We envision inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and Housing Barriers for Persons with Mental Illness accessible housing available in and Addictions Strait Richmond communities. Persons with mental illness and addictions often experience challenges in accessing safe, affordable and suitable housing, resulting in housing insecurity and homelessness. Financial stability is required for stable housing and often persons with chronic and persistent mental health and addiction issues have difficulty finding and keeping a job, rely on income assistance and live in poverty. Persons with mental health and addiction issues face stigma, which also makes it difficult to access housing. It is often said that persons experiencing mental illness are considered to be among “the hardest population to house”.  Many people with mental illness and other concurrent disorders experience homelessness. Programs like those offered in Cape Breton Regional Municipality and Antigonish such as Housing First (Reaching Home) and Supported Housing for Individuals with Mental Illness (SHIMI) are successful in keeping people with mental illness and addictions issues healthy. The Strait Richmond area does not have these programs available in its communities. For more information: [email protected] Source:  CHMA, n.d. Housing and Mental Health. Retrieved from: https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/housing-and-mental-health/ Homeless Hub 2014. The State of Homelessness in Canada. Retrieved from: https://homelesshub.ca/sites/default/files/SOHC2014.pdf

Housing is a Municipal Election Issue Housing Issues for Seniors We envision inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. In Canada, seniors (those 65 years of age and over) represent the fastest growing age group. In 2016, there were close to six million seniors, representing 16.9% of Canada's total population and this number is expected to increase to 24% by 2036 (Statistics Canada). Nova Scotia has one of the highest senior populations in Canada and in Richmond County and the Strait area, seniors over the age of 55 years represent over 40% of the population. Most seniors prefer to live independently for as long as possible in their own home and community and there are many benefits for doing so including increased physical, mental and social capacities. Aging in place allows seniors to maintain social networks with family members, friends and community members and maintain personal identity. Supporting seniors to age in place with appropriate support services can also reduce costs associated with health care. There is a need to increase and improve the existing supply of seniors' housing and also consider various options that consider different health needs and income levels. The well-being of seniors can be improved by all levels of government encouraging and promoting the inclusion of age-friendly principles into all building such as space design policy and planning, transportation and access to health and home-care services. For more information:  [email protected] Source: Report on Housing Needs of Seniors; Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2019 Canada.ca/publicentre-ESDC

Did Y We envision inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. For more information: [email protected] Source: Stephen Gaetz, Jesse Donaldson, Tim Richter, & Tanya Gulliver (20 2013. Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press.

You Know? Housing is a Municipal Election Issue Poverty is the underlying cause of most housing affordability challenges. Many individuals experiencing housing issues are employed. Rising taxes and the cost of utilities put homeowners living on low incomes at risk. The risk of fuel poverty also tends to be higher in rural areas where people are more likely to own and heat their homes. 013) The State of Homelessness in Canada

Housing is a Municipal Election Issue Housing Barriers for We envision inclusive, healthy, People with Criminal Records affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. Access to support and resources, especially affordable housing, is often a challenge when someone has a criminal record. It is not uncommon to face barriers in employment and accessing affordable housing, potentially placing them at risk of housing instability, homelessness, and possible recidivism. One study by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation found that approximately 30 percent of all Canadian individuals incarcerated at both the provincial and federal levels will not have suitable housing when leaving prison. Those persons returning to the community who suffer from mental health issues, physical health problems such as HIV and AIDS, or substance dependency tend to have more challenges locating and acquiring stable housing. If someone is experiencing housing issues related to their criminal background, contact the following organizations for assistance: The Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton - Sydney, N.S. https://www.efrycb.com/home.html Devoted to improving the lives of women in Nova Scotia through comprehensive housing supports and court negotiation services, including legal, providing letters of support and options for women on conditional release (SAP – Satellite Apartment Program). Call (902) 539-6165 or e-mail [email protected] or for SAP (902) 562-8271 or e-mail [email protected] The John Howard Society - Northeastern District – New Glasgow, N. S. https://ns.johnhoward.ca/programs/north_eastern/ Call (902) 396-1999 or e-mail [email protected] For more information:  [email protected] Source: 2016 Reintegration in Ontario: Practices, Priorities, and Effective Models; John Howard Society

Did Y We envision inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. h Y of fa For more information: You [email protected] 2 Source: Without a Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey.

You Know? Housing is a Municipal Election Issue Young people aged 13-24 make up about 20% of those experiencing homelessness, and housing insecurity. Youth experiencing housing insecurity ften come from homes where there is amily conflict such as alcohol, family violence, neglect and poverty. uth who identify as LGBTQ2S make up 29.5% of young people experiencing homelessness.

Did Y We envision inclusive, healthy, affordable, sustainable, and accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. For more information:  [email protected] Source: Canadian Child and Youth Health and Housing Networks. (2013). The Impact of Housing on the Health of Children and Youth in Canada. R www.housingandchildhealth.ca

You Know? Housing is a Municipal Election Issue Homelessness in rural areas is often hidden and shows up as couch surfing, especially among youth. There is no youth shelter in the Strait Richmond area. Children who are homeless are three to four times more likely to have mental health issues than other children. More than Shelter. Retrieved from

Housing is a Municipal Election Issue Homelessness and We envision inclusive, healthy, Violence Against Women affordable, sustainable, and Homelessness in Canada accessible housing available in Strait Richmond communities. Experts and advocates estimate that between 150,000 and 300,000 individuals in Canada experience homelessness yearly. Approximately 36% of homeless people in Canada are women and women-identified. Gender plays a key role, as men and women have different experiences of homelessness. Generally, women are more likely to experience “hidden homelessness”- where they stay in informal housing arrangements and exhaust all possible options before seeking support in shelters. Violence Against Women Violence against women happens in many different situations, and homelessness and lack of access to safe housing is a key contributing factor. In situations of intimate partner or family violence, women may be afraid of losing their home if they try to leave and feel stuck with an abusive partner. Homeless women may experience gender-based violence such as sexual assault on the street. Intersectionality Racialized and Indigenous women suffer disproportionately from poverty and have greater vulnerability to violence. They are also at greater risk of homelessness or having core housing needs. Gender-diverse and non-binary people are also at greater risk of becoming homeless and/or experiencing housing instability. Rural areas and small towns also present particular challenges. Leeside Society Leeside Society recognizes women who flee their homes because of violence are in effect homeless, and women are often more comfortable saying they have nowhere to live rather than that their home is unsafe. Finding housing solutions for women who have experienced or are at risk of violence are a key part of the supports offered at Leeside Society. For more information:  [email protected] Source:  Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, www.homelesshub.ca Women and Girls Homelessness in Canada, womenshomelessness.ca/women-girls-homelessness-in-canada/ Leeside Society Annual General Report, 2020, Prepared by Transition House Association of Nova Scotia, thans.ca