Justine Stewart

Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) has launched a new housing strategy aiming to build 560 social housing units over the next five years as part of a broader goal to construct 10,000 new homes in the same period. Housing Minister Rob Lantz emphasized that these figures are not fixed targets and the province is committed to […]

The City of Calgary has launched the Housing Capital Initiative (HCI), providing $60 million in funding over three years to support the development of affordable rental housing. This program is open for applications from charities, non-profit organizations, and Indigenous groups until October 10, 2024. The HCI will cover up to 30% of the costs for

Alberta has seen a dramatic surge in housing construction activity, with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reporting a 54 percent increase in housing starts during the first half of 2024, setting a record for this period. This surge represents the highest number of housing starts recorded in Alberta since 1990. In the first six

On Wednesday morning, a Montreal encampment in the Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie borough was dismantled, displacing seven people. Located near St-Laurent Boulevard and Bellechasse Street, the encampment was on land owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railway. Railway police and CPKC employees were seen clearing out belongings and trashing items like lawn chairs and tarps. The

The City of Vancouver has secured funding to keep three public washrooms in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) operational, addressing concerns from community advocates about their potential closure. Originally established during the COVID-19 pandemic and intended to support the growing homeless population, these washrooms at Oppenheimer Park, Pigeon Park, and 144 East Hastings St. were facing

The City of Timmins has voted to extend the Mushkegowuk Council’s Fire Keeper Patrol team through December 2025, a day before a public rally addressing homelessness and drug use in the community. This decision follows a successful one-year pilot program launched in 2023, where the patrol team provided outreach from 4 p.m. to midnight daily.

The situation for unhoused individuals in Toronto is critical, with the city’s shelter system struggling under intense pressure. In June, an average of 231 people per night were unable to secure a shelter bed, according to the city’s Shelter System Requests for Referrals webpage. Advocacy groups, including the Shelter and Housing Justice Network, are raising

Montreal has inaugurated its first urban shelter run by Indigenous people, the Mitshuap shelter, located near Cabot Square. Established by the Innu Nation, the shelter addresses the tragic death of Raphaël André, an Innu man who perished in January 2021 after being turned away from two shelters due to COVID-19 restrictions. A warming tent initially

Winnipeg’s upcoming street census will feature significant changes due to concerns about the accuracy of recent counts. Past censuses, conducted roughly every two years, relied heavily on volunteers. However, the 2022 survey saw a drop in volunteers from 300 to 160 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially skewing results. The 2022 census recorded around 1,250

Réhabex, a social rehabilitation organization in western Quebec, has launched a new mobile service called “Réhabus” to support people experiencing homelessness. The Réhabus is equipped with a shower, laundry facilities, clothing, snacks, and a private space for consultations with a social worker. It will begin service on Monday, traveling through Gatineau, Pontiac, Petite-Nation, and Maniwaki.