SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING STUDY
The Manitoba Branch of the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC Manitoba) regularly engages in research that examines issues which impact consumers, with particular attention to those that affect vulnerable consumers. One such issue that has received increasing media attention, particularly of late, is the shortage of safe and affordable housing for Canadian consumers.
Widespread barriers to adequate, safe and affordable housing persist in Canada, and contribute to the crisis of houselessness and precarious housing in urban and rural centers across the country. CAC MB understands these barriers to disproportionately affect vulnerable and marginalized consumers, and to have been exacerbated by both the pressure on household finances wrought by the pandemic period and, more recently, by high inflation.
In an effort to better understand the impacts, CAC Manitoba has undertaken a two-year research project (funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Contributions Program for Non-profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations*) to examine the realities and impacts of discrimination in the provision of housing on low-income and vulnerable consumers.
In addition to race-based discrimination, this research will explore the barriers to access that may be perpetuated based on sex, gender, language, disability, source and amount of income, family status and social status.
The study’s research questions include:
- What is the extent of housing discrimination across Canada, and what are its effects on vulnerable and low-income consumers?
- What are the ways discrimination varies across the country?
- Where is discrimination most concentrated (small landlords, large property management companies)?
- What are the impacts of discrimination on individuals, and the extent of different kinds of discrimination?
- What policies and processes exist to prevent discrimination, and what remedies are available when discrimination has occurred?
- How effective are those remedies?
All of these questions will be answered with an emphasis on the impacts of the issue on financially insecure consumer households.
The methodology includes: an extensive review of the literature to identify key themes; an analysis of regulatory and legislative framework at the provincial, federal and international levels to identify any relevant regulatory frameworks, statutes or regulations; a quantitative survey of consumers across Canada through the use of online survey panels; participatory field research co-conducted with a group of ten consumers; key informant interviews with ten representatives of stakeholder organizations, with a view to broadening the perspectives in the research, and to capture important pieces of information, issues, or concerns that could impact the results of the research, all culminating in a virtual workshop where preliminary themes identified in the research will be shared and discussed. All methods will be guided by a project advisory committee composed of representatives from stakeholder organizations, as well as an academically credentialled project methodologist and inclusivity reviewer, who will guide the project work to ensure the research captures the breadth of perspectives and remains consistent with best research practices.
This research began in March of 2023 and is currently underway. The methods will conclude in March of 2025, with the final report available in fall of 2025.
*Funder Acknowledgement
The Consumers Association of Canada (Manitoba Branch) has received funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Contributions Program for Non-profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations. The views expressed in (the final) project report are not necessarily those of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada or of the Government of Canada.