Systemic barriers to housing persist for vulnerable people, says Sask. Human Rights Commission
CBC
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission released an update Thursday to a 2018 report that highlighted seven key issues experienced in housing by people with disabilities, Indigenous people, and people marginalized by mental health and addiction issues.
In May 2018, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) released a 40-page report called Access and Equality for Renters in Receipt of Public Assistance: A Report to Stakeholders, known as the "red report" for its red-coloured cover.
The seven key issues were:
"This update turns a human rights lens to the issue of housing, and includes an understanding of the legal considerations related to housing, as well as a consideration of the international and national perspectives," Darrell Seib, director of systemic initiatives at SHRC, said during Thursday's release.
"The Saskatchewan Human Rights code clarifies that access to housing cannot be denied based on the prohibited grounds."
In 2015, a committee of landlords, renters, community groups, Government of Saskatchewan agencies and the City of Saskatoon was formed to advocate for renters receiving public assistance.
"In 2018, these advocates told the commission that their clients were facing numerous issues such as discriminatory advertising for rental accommodation, landlords refusing to rent to people in receipt of public assistance, among other issues," Barry Wilcox, the chief commissioner of the SHRC, said Thursday.
"The commission recognizes that many challenges still exist and issues are ongoing."
Thursday's update says challenges remain, despite some reductions to discrimination in housing.
One of the challenges the update highlights is renters, landlords and housing organizations continuing to adjust to the new Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) program.
"For many stakeholders, market rents compared to the public assistance rates remains a concern. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the operating environment, adding new challenges for renters," the report says.
Other challenges include ongoing demand for space for "hard to house" persons with active addictions and mental health issues, and access to effective tenant-landlord dispute resolution.
The panel members also identified addiction and mental health problems as "unfair barriers," especially during the pandemic, and said the public housing safety net is disappearing by the year, especially in Saskatoon.
The panel said there is also a lack of education for landlords.
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