November 22 is National Housing Day. Events are being held across the country calling on the federal government to take action for safe and accessible housing for all. Housing advocates are demanding the government show up for social housing, put in place rent regulations and put an end to the financialization of housing.
Find an event in your community here: https://www.moresocialhousing.ca/join-us-on-national-housing-day/
Housing is a critical issue for CUPE members across the country, as rents and housing prices have skyrocketed. In 1980, the average home cost 2.5 times the average yearly household income. But housing prices have outpaced wage increases so drastically that the average home now costs a staggering 8.8 times the average yearly income. Today, a worker in British Columbia would need to earn $29.96 per hour working 40 hours a week in order to afford the average market rent for a one-bedroom apartment. Workers in Ontario would need to earn $28.50 per hour, significantly more than the minimum wage.
CUPE’s National Executive Board has strengthened and renewed its position on housing in recognition of this crisis. Housing is the basis of stability and security for CUPE members. Workers need to be able to afford to live in the communities where they work, and communities need affordable housing to attract frontline workers to deliver public services. This is a fundamental union issue.
CUPE is encouraging members to show up for social housing and demand the federal government take urgent measures to address the housing crisis faced by workers. If you cannot attend an event in person, you can send a message to your Member of Parliament and let them know that affordable, safe housing for all is important to you.
Our housing policy calls for a workers’ plan for housing:
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Public money and public lands must be used for the public interest, not private profit
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Non-market housing including public, non-profit and co-operative housing, including rent geared to income, must be significantly increased.
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Regulations and restrictions must be put in place for large scale investors in residential real estate, including workers’ pension funds and Real Estate Investment Trusts.
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Enforceable minimum standards for renters must be put in place, including rent control, vacancy control and protection against unfair evictions.
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Indigenous peoples have the right to be actively involved in developing and determining housing programmes affecting them, and to administer such programmes through their own institutions. The federal government needs to provide adequate funding to close the housing gap experienced by Indigenous peoples.