FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Unceded Territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations –– Vancouver, BC ––
March 7, 2023 —
March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD), a global day to recognize and celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and girls. It is also a call to action for gender equity.
This International Women’s Day, the Pan-Canadian Voice for Women’s Housing (PCVWH) is demanding action to address the inequities in access to safe, affordable, appropriate housing for women, their children, and gender-diverse people in all communities across Canada.
The Pan-Canadian Voice for Women’s Housing is available to speak to the urgent need for improvements that matter to women, their children and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness, who are precariously housed, and/or fleeing violence.
- Janice Abbott is available in British Columbia
- Chevi Rabbit is available to speak to Transgender-Two Spirit Housing Needs
- Anne Landry is available in Alberta
- Cindy Chiasson is available in the Yukon
- Twyla Etchinelle is available in the North West Territories
- Janine Harvey is available in the North West Territories
- Lori Deets is available in Saskatchewan
- Taylor Richards is available in Manitoba
- Annick Mondat Allemann is available in Prince Edward Island (bilingual)
As billions of dollars are being invested by governments and the private sector to increase housing supply, households led by women and gender-diverse people continue to be disproportionately impacted by unmet housing needs.
Quick Stats:
- 9,078 women and girls in Canada experience homelessness on any given day.
- 1,000 women and their children are turned away from Violence Against Women shelters on an average day. Most will return to situations of violence and precarity because of it.
- 90% of families using emergency shelters are headed by single women.
- 43% of gender-diverse people reported experiencing discrimination from their landlords and/or property managers on the basis of gender.
To help increase the awareness of these problems, the Pan-Canadian Voice for Women’s Housing will be offering a free training series to , women and gender-diverse people with lived expertise – past or current – of barriers to safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing can participate in a series of online advocacy training sessions hosted by. Details here: https://pcvwh.ca/she-they-us/skills-sessions/
The Pan-Canadian Voice for Women’s Housing (PCVWH) is a national project focused on ensuring housing policies across Canada include and prioritize women, their children and gender-diverse people. PCVWH is overseen by a national Advisory Committee and through its annual symposium, PCVWH is convening important conversations with activists, academics, elected officials, and decision-makers from coast-to-coast-to -coast about why elevating the voices of women and gender-diverse people is essential work for all of us who care about housing.
[ 30 ]
Contact:
Rachel Timbalian, Housing Advocacy Coordinator
778-657-5467
[email protected]
