Housing as a right: An uphill battle
The documentary Push highlighted how urgent and global the housing affordability crisis is. As Leilani Farha, the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, travels from city to city, every person has a unique story to tell, yet they share a common theme: the commodification of housing is denying people their basic human right to shelter. Powerful developers and the global financial market are causing housing across the globe to be merely an investment, lacking in any human element. While we blame hipsters and chic new coffeeshops for gentrifying neighbourhoods, it is clear the issue is so much bigger.
Though the problem seems so insurmountable, it is the perseverance of Farha throughout the documentary that gives me hope that change can be made. In one of the final scenes, the mayors and municipal leaders of some of the world’s largest cities gathered to discuss the housing crisis and sign onto Municipal Declaration of Local Governments for the Right to Housing and the Right to the City. They all clearly understood what an important issue this was and that something needed to be done. For me, it was so inspiring to see change beginning to happen at the local level. We often talk about how Canadian and American municipalities are mere creatures of the province, and yet here the leaders were taking a stand, pushing for change together.
Yet while I have hope, I recognize that even after guaranteeing the right to housing or shelter, the work will be far from over. New York City already has a unique right to shelter mandate that has helped to develop a comprehensive shelter system for homeless individuals to access. While a lot of progress has been made to provide homeless individuals a place to stay, people in positions of power are still finding ways to take advantage of and profit from some of the most vulnerable members of society. Just this month, the New York Times published an article exposing the sexual assault and financial misconduct allegations against Victor Rivera, who ran the Bronx Parent Housing Network. The government provided this organization with millions of dollars to provide safe shelter to vulnerable residents. Now residents of his shelters and former employees are coming forward to share how Rivera sexually assaulted and coerced them, threatening to take away their housing if they did not do what he asked. The investigation also showed how common financial mismanagement is by some non-profits providing housing. Thus, as we work towards guaranteeing everyone has a safe and affordable place to live, it is vital governments and watchdogs hold service providers to account and ensure they are not abusing the power they have been given.
The fight for the right to housing may a long and tiring uphill battle, with many unexpected barriers being placed in the way. However, I am certain that with so many incredible people continuing to push for change, that it can be won.
