Social Housing

Food and shelter are basic human needs. Despite much effort on the ground, there has not been a comprehensive and systematic approach to improving food security for residents in social housing (the very people at highest risk of food insecurity). In addition, very little research has focused on the issue of food security and social housing.

As a result, there is a lack of awareness and evidence-based, population specific recommendations to improve food security.

Barriers

Barriers to achieving greater food security arise primarily in three elements of social housing:

1. Geographic location
2. Built form
3. Available programs

Research

We have partnered with many others to undertake research and advocate for the systematic inclusion of food security supports in social housing and emergency shelters. Some of our work is detailed in the reports below:

Food Security and Housing in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside - July 2009) This report documents the housing and food security needs of the hard to house population in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and provides population-specific suggestions for policies to address these needs.

Food security and Social Housing - Forum Follow-up Report - July 2009 Summary of a forum that was held on June 3, 2009, to further the integration of food security into social housing in a comprehensive and systematic manner.

Food Security and Social Housing Presentation This presentation proposes systematic and comprehensive integration of food security through policy and research.

Food Security and Housing - August 2008 Preliminary rationale and strategies for the subsidized housing sector