Week in Review: June 20, 2025

Here’s a roundup of housing news and issues that ECOHH noted this week:

From ECOHH’s social media

• Research Update: Learnings from the Equity and Inclusion in Housing Design (EIHD) Project

• On June 10 City Councillor Anne Stevenson made a special tribute to Lynn Hannley as part of a City Council meeting. Here is the wording of her message: 

  • Today we honour the life and legacy of Lynn Hannley, who passed away on April 26, 2025. Her tireless advocacy, passionate leadership and countless contributions to community development have touched the lives of many Edmontonians. She leaves a lasting legacy on the landscape of our city. Lynn was born on Dec. 10, 1946 — one day before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was taken up at the United Nations General Assembly. The UN adopted the declaration on her second birthday, and later marked December 10 as Human Rights Day. No doubt a coincidence, but fitting nonetheless given Lynn’s dedication to improving the lives of others, especially when it came to housing. Lynn was at the forefront of housing advocacy. From the start, she believed “housing is a right… not a privilege of a select few,” as she is quoted in the Edmonton Journal in 1975, just three years after founding Communitas, an organization dedicated to helping people find housing and shape the places they call home. At the start, Lynn was the only full-time employee of Communitas, working with only a part-time secretary and some volunteers. But over the years, it grew considerably and has been involved in the development of more than 65 projects that provide housing for over 2,200 households. One way or another, as her colleagues say, Lynn had a hand in all of them as the organization’s managing director. They remember her as a dedicated, driven and selfless visionary who embraced innovative ideas — and rarely backed down from a challenge. Over the years, there have been countless projects that Lynn has helped bring to fruition either directly or indirectly, including co-ops, affordable homes, and permanent supportive housing. Lynn was at the forefront of creating homes that met the needs of the individuals living in them. In the 1970s, Lynn helped open what would later be known as WIN House, Edmonton’s first government-funded women’s shelter and — at the time — the only one in Canada to accept mothers and children fleeing domestic violence. Hundreds of women and children continue to find refuge through WIN House every year. Her innovative approach carried through the decades, including serving as project manager for Ambrose Place, which opened in 2014 to provide some of the first permanent supportive housing in Edmonton, providing the supports needed for Indigenous Peoples living with disabilities and mental health conditions. Beneath a resume stacked with awards, board appointments, published research and so much more, Lynn is also credited with supporting the development of Operation Friendship, the Boyle Street Co-op and the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness. She was tuned into the needs of her neighbours, had the grit to effect change, and empowered others to do the same. I had the privilege to work with Lynn on a number of projects throughout my time with Right at Home Housing, including work through Ambrose Place, creating a novel joint ownership agreement on the Omamoo Wango Gamik project, and early exploration of the Multicultural Health Brokers refugee and newcomer housing. My most abiding memory of Lynn is how she would face seemingly insurmountable difficulties with a wave and a scoff - "oh that'll be fine" or "we'll figure it out" she'd say. While never ignoring challenges, she refused to be daunted by them. This ability to focus on the horizon of possibility instead of the obstacles in the way is what I think allowed her to bring so many valuable and aspirational projects to fruition. I wanted to share a quotation I understand was close to Lynn’s heart: “This planet belongs to a whole family of humans, plants, and other beings, some of whom are dead, many of whom are living, and most of whom are yet unborn.” This is certainly a fitting reflection as generations of Edmontonians to come will benefit from Lynn's passion, commitment, and vision. On behalf of my Council colleagues and the City of Edmonton, we offer our recognition and profound gratitude for her contributions to our city. Lynn will be greatly missed by those who knew her, and we share heartfelt condolences with her family, friends and colleagues. I hope that her memory will inspire others to take up her work and continue to engage in building a better community for everyone.

• Neha Review Panel on the Right to Safe, Adequate and Affordable Housing for Women, Two Spirit, Trans, and Gender-Diverse People, and the Government’s Duty to Uphold this Right

Relevant housing news 

• Closing the Gap: Grassroots Organizing and Policy Making for Housing in Canada

• Breaking down interprovincial barriers can tackle the housing crisis, too

• Protesters march through downtown Toronto to call out corporate landlords

• How B.C. is trying to protect affordable rent

• B.C. municipalities call on province to legislate housing as a human right

• The Number of Unhoused Young Children Is at Crisis Level. It’s Set to Get Worse

• Why 'build, baby build' won't be enough to fix housing

• Municipalities call on the province to enshrine housing as a human right

• Nunavut housing symposium brings industry leaders together to tackle housing crisis

• How to fight Quebec's toxic drug problem? A former user says change the conversation

• 'Where are we gonna go next?': Cycle begins again after latest Regina homeless encampment dismantled

• New Indigenous-led women's shelter aims to provide 'an auntie's love'

• Despite housing crisis, Ontario's social assistance rates favour people living alone

• Edmonton may revise zoning bylaw to reduce mid-block multi-family units

• Montreal's new private patrols spark backlash from homelessness groups

• When you cannot afford afford to live near your work.

• Downtown businesses in Vancouver, Victoria want changes to supportive housing, citing public safety concerns

• More than half of Canadian renters plan to buy. So what’s stopping them?

• Albertans more likely to buy a home than rent

• Portable toilet returns: City relents after homeless Londoners used buckets and dug holes in Watson Street Park

• Soccer tournament in GTA brings together players impacted by homelessness, mental health struggles

• Yellowknife encampment residents say they feel more supported after moving to new spot

• Did Indigenous Services Canada know the NWT has almost no reserves?

As always, we recommend checking out these sources for additional information on housing and homelessness

• Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) 

• Canadian Centre for Housing Rights

• Canadian Housing & Renewal Association (CHRA) 

• Federal Housing Advocate

• Homeless Hub (Canadian Observatory on Homelessness) 

• Homeward Trust 

• Housing Complex  

• Make the Shift   

• National Right to Housing Network (NRHN)  

• Social Housing & Human Rights (SHHR) 

• Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network