On Oct. 17 the Lake Country Community Legal Clinic will be holding a peaceful rally to bring awareness to the current housing crisis.
Maria Voinovski-Boucher, Community Legal Worker, said Canada is currently experiencing one of the worst housing crises in recent history.
“The housing crisis is no longer just a poverty issue, it is an everyone issue,” she said. “Across northern Ontario, specifically, families, elders, young workers, even middle-income earners are struggling to secure and maintain housing.”
On Friday (Oct 17) at noon a peaceful rally will be held in Parry Sound at the corner of Seguin and James streets.
“We want to bring this to the attention of our MP’s, our MPP’s – although the government knows this is happening, of course these things take time,” said Voinovski-Boucher. “We just want them to know that the world is watching, the country is watching – we’re aware that this is a human right, we’re entitled to have safe and affordable housing for as many families as possible – no family in Canada should be unhoused.”
She says the immediate action that could help a lot of Canadians would be the introduction of rent control. There is currently a survey they are asking people to sign to get the word back to Premier Doug Ford at Fair Rent Ontario – Stable Homes. Secure Futures.
“But just providing homes to everyone isn’t going to solve the issue,” she said. “There are a lot of people who are unhoused who require mental health assistance, addiction assistance, transition assistance.”
Voinovski-Boucher says it’s necessary to have supports in place to help people.
On Oct. 17, they hope to get community members out to stand as a united voice and let Canadians know that housing is a human right.
