The 2023 Child and Youth Housing in BC Report

Released on January 10, 2024

About the Project

Canada and BC have made commitments to protect children’s right to housing through the Section 15 of the Charter of Right and Freedoms and through a variety of international conventions and covenants, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

However, the increased cost of housing in recent years has put an increased burden on families, particularly those in poverty. It has given rogue landlords more of an opportunity to discriminate against families with children, to disregard the existing tenancy laws and violate their human rights. It has also meant that there are more and more families on the waiting lists for housing through BC Housing and other subsidized housing operators.

• Families report fear of the child protection system when they are inadequately housed, as the system’s response is often to apprehend their children. Other families report putting their children into ‘voluntary’ care because they cannot secure the housing they need.
• Youth transitioning out of government care face discrimination in securing rental housing for a range of reasons related to stigma and the lack of financial and other supports during this crucial period of vulnerability.

This research project developed recommendations to better protect children’s right to housing through changes to legislation, regulation, policy and practice.

Funder

This project is made possible by the Law Foundation of BC.