Week in Review: March 7, 2025

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

From ECOHH’s social media

• Refusing to Hide: Exploring the Connections Between Homelessness and Incarceration

• Discrimination in rental housing

  • The study found the following:  

    • In comparison to white individuals, landlords responded to racialized individuals less often and with a shorter message.  

    • In comparison to white individuals, certain groups reported that landlords had asked them more questions about their personal life, for example about their marital status, whether they planned to have children, their immigration status, or whether they smoked. 

    • In comparison to white men, landlords requested more proof of income and employment from racialized individuals and women.  

    • In comparison to white individuals, landlords more often rejected rental applications from racialized individuals, and most often rejected applications from newcomers.  

    • People with disabilities face high levels of discrimination during their tenancy period. Very often, landlords required people with disabilities to follow different rules than other renters who did not have a disability. 

    • A higher incidence of discrimination was reported in communities with lower vacancy rates and higher income inequality.

• Federal funding announced for housing in Edmonton

• Join Homeward Trust Edmonton and Boyle Street Community Services for a drop-in community conversation about wâpanAcâhcahk - Morningstar Home this month. 

  • Where: Ottewell School (9435-73 St NW), Gymnasium #1063 

  • When: Thursday, March 20 from 4:30-8:30pm 

  • Visit: bit.ly/MorningstarHome for more details.

Relevant housing news 

• Edmonton average house prices have seen a HUGE $15K increase

• Effect of tariffs on Edmonton's housing market

• Housing NWT sometimes evicts tenants in winter. MLA asks why notices served in coldest months

• What Jasper’s new interim housing neighbourhoods are like

• 'There's definitely demand': How homes without basements, stairs could ease northern Ontario housing crisis

• N.S. rapidly losing some of its most affordable apartments, while cost soars for new ones

• Halifax stabbing shows need for more mental health resources, says advocate for homeless people

• Montreal housing activists worry rent hikes will force tenants into poor living conditions

• Northview describes ‘shocking crisis’ in NWT rental landscape

• Housing benefit runs out of money

• ‘Its inhumane’: Regina non-profits highlight lack of supports for homeless after cold snap

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