First Call’s Housing Report for 2023, A Failure to Protect: The Denial of Children’s Right to Housing in British Columbia, has been released. It is available for download at https://firstcallbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/First-Call-Housing-Report-2023.pdf

Responding to anecdotal reports over several years from families with children, First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society, with funding from the Law Foundation, has produced a report based on legal review of caselaw, legal research journals, a literature review, online survey of 163 service providers, listening circles for families with children, and key informant interviews with members of the project advisory committee. “Key themes that emerged as barriers undermining children’s right to house were unaffordability, overcrowding, waiting lists, discrimination in rentals and the fear of child apprehensions..”

The lack of access to affordable housing was the top issue identified by all the parents in the listening circles: “the lack of affordable housing for families in BC results in many being forced into crowded and unsafe living conditions. The types of units available at low cost are frequently run-down, or unsafe (particularly for women and children fleeing violence), or may contain pests such as bed bugs, mice, or mold. Numerous studies have shown that many families are forced to live in substandard and crowded housing and regularly make the choice between paying the rent or feeding their kids.”

The Canadian Nation Occupancy Standards (NOS) used by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to measure housing suitability state:

• No more than two people share a bedroom

• Lone parents have a separate bedroom

• Household members age 18+ have a separate bedroom, except those living as a married or common-law couple

• Household members under 18 years of age, of the same sex, may share a bedroom

• Household members under 5 years of age, of different sex, may share a bedroom.

The report notes, “According to 2016 Census data, 30% of the rental housing Canadian children lived in was unsuitable under the National Occupancy Standard, with too few bedrooms for the size and composition of the family. Additionally, for 32% of children in rental housing, the household was in core housing need. This means their housing fell below at least one of the affordability, suitability, or condition of dwelling standards, and the household was spending 30% or more of their total before-tax income to pay the median rent of alternative local housing that met all three housing standards. A higher percentage of children in subsidized rental housing were in core housing need at 41%.”

The report’s conclusions noted that:

• 37% of parent survey respondents and 40% of listening circle participants reported being denied rental housing because they had children.

• Families with children who may already be experiencing other forms of discrimination…reported being more likely to experience housing discrimination, less likely to be satisfied with their housing, and more likely to be forced to move frequently.

• The report heard from families raising their children in overcrowded spaces, unsafe or unhealthy spaces, impacts that were confirmed by the social workers and other service provided interviews/surveyed. Precarious housing led to disruption of children’s school attendance, with attendant behaviour problems.

• Parents’ visions for their children included being able to afford housing more appropriate for their family size and in good repair, living close to parks, safe spaces, schools or other amenities.

The report’s recommendations (which outline specific actionable items) include:

• Build, create and protect more affordable rental housing

• Increase financial support for families to help pay for housing

• Improve housing services

• Improve regulation of private landlords

• Strengthen protections under the Human Rights Code