OVERVIEW
Housing is a fundamental human right. It is essential for human dignity, security, and well-being. It provides a stable foundation for people to live safely and maintain health.
In Canada, as in other countries, the right to housing is not consistently respected or protected for people who use drugs. The criminalization of people who use drugs means many are contending with stigma, discrimination, surveillance, criminal charges, incarceration, and criminal records — all of which limit employment and housing opportunities. Some jurisdictions are also contemplating or have passed laws prohibiting public drug consumption, including within dwellings such as tents in public spaces. Additionally, many shelters — including emergency shelters, shelters for women fleeing violence, and transitional houses — enforce “zero-tolerance” policies, whereby people who use drugs are denied entry or stay. Without stable housing, people who use drugs face greater risks of street violence and hampered access to fundamental care.
Our work focuses on laws and policies that affect the right to housing among people who use drugs. We are working towards:
- Expanding low-barrier, harm reduction housing and shelter programs, which focus on supporting people who use drugs;
- Eliminating zero-tolerance policies in shelters and transitional housing programs, which exclude people who use drugs from accessing support;
- Decriminalizing simple drug possession and necessity trafficking, which impose barriers to employment and housing opportunities;
- Challenging laws and policies that exclude people who use drugs from public spaces; and
- Other measures aimed to improve housing access across Canada.