Research summary
Housing is a human right and a social determinant of health that has effects across a person’s lifespan. In 2021, more than 10 per cent of households in Canada experienced core housing needs—a rate that has remained virtually unchanged for decades. This means that about 1.4 million Canadians have housing that falls below the acceptable threshold for adequacy, affordability or suitability, and would need to spend 30 per cent or more of their pre-tax income to access local housing that met all three standards.
As Canada Research Chair in Housing, Community and Health, Dr. Mylene Riva is producing evidence at the junction of housing, population health and sustainability that is relevant for policy-making. She and her research team are making significant contributions to Canada’s ability to achieve its National Housing Strategy and reach several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.