There are many folks in the NWT and Nunavut suffering with problems that relate to there social housing units. It's often VERY hard for them to speak out... especially in their communities. Many of these issues deal with the housing authority's lack of understanding that housing is a human right.
"...The right to housing is the economic, social and cultural right to adequate housing and shelter. It is recognised in many national constitutions and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights... The right to housing is recognised in a number of international human rights instruments. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises the right to housing as part of the right to an adequate standard of living. It states that:
“ Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control...."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_housing
Canada has signed these Human Rights agreements... therefor housing is a Human Right in Canada.
So if your are thrown out of social housing or cannot get housing... for any reason.. it may well be a breach of your human rights..
The Right to Adequate Housing Toolkit
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/toolkit/Pages/RighttoAdequateHousingToolkit.aspx
"...Elements of the right to adequate housing
Legal security of tenure: Regardless of the type of tenure, all persons should possess a degree of security of tenure which guarantees legal protection against forced eviction, harassment and other threats;
Affordability: Personal or household financial costs associated with housing should not threaten or compromise the attainment and satisfaction of other basic needs (for example, food, education, access to health care);
Habitability: Adequate housing should provide for elements such as adequate space, protection from cold, damp, heat, rain, wind or other threats to health, structural hazards, and disease vectors;
Availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure: Housing is not adequate if its occupants do not have safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, energy for cooking, heating and lighting, sanitation and washing facilities, means of food storage, refuse disposal, etc.;
Accessibility: Housing is not adequate if the specific needs of disadvantaged and marginalized groups are not taken into account (such as the poor, people facing discrimination; persons with disabilities, victims of natural disasters);
Location: Adequate housing must allow access to employment options, health-care services, schools, child-care centres and other social facilities and should not be built on polluted sites nor in immediate proximity to pollution sources;
Cultural adequacy: Adequate housing should respect and take into account the expression of cultural identity and ways of life..."
PDF: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FS21_rev_1_Housing_en.pdf
When you've tried to resolve your problems.. and all fails... file a complaint with
http://nwthumanrights.ca/
NWT Human Rights Commission
Write:
PO Box 1860
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P4
E-mail: info@nwthumanrights.ca
Fax: 867-873-0357
Call:
Toll Free: 1-888-669-5575
Yellowknife: 867-669-5575
Visit:
Main Floor, Laing Building, 5003-49th Street
(Entrance on Franklin Street, next to Motor Vehicles.)
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/nwthrc
When you've tried to resolve your problems.. and all fails... file a complaint with
Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal
http://www.nhrt.ca/
All communications requesting information or relating to files must be through the Office of Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal. The Tribunal members do not respond to personal communications in relation to the Tribunal activities except during prearranged teleconferences, mediations and hearings.
Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal
PO Box 15
Coral Harbour, NU X0C 0C0
Hours of Operation:
April to October: 8:30 to 5:00 pm Central Standard Time
November to March: 8:30 to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Note: Coral Harbour, NU does not change time
1-888-220-1011 - Toll Free Fax
1-866-413-6478 - Toll-free Telephone
Email: nunavuthumanrights@gov.nu.ca
"...The right to housing is the economic, social and cultural right to adequate housing and shelter. It is recognised in many national constitutions and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights... The right to housing is recognised in a number of international human rights instruments. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognises the right to housing as part of the right to an adequate standard of living. It states that:
“ Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control...."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_housing
Canada has signed these Human Rights agreements... therefor housing is a Human Right in Canada.
So if your are thrown out of social housing or cannot get housing... for any reason.. it may well be a breach of your human rights..
The Right to Adequate Housing Toolkit
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Housing/toolkit/Pages/RighttoAdequateHousingToolkit.aspx
"...Elements of the right to adequate housing
Legal security of tenure: Regardless of the type of tenure, all persons should possess a degree of security of tenure which guarantees legal protection against forced eviction, harassment and other threats;
Affordability: Personal or household financial costs associated with housing should not threaten or compromise the attainment and satisfaction of other basic needs (for example, food, education, access to health care);
Habitability: Adequate housing should provide for elements such as adequate space, protection from cold, damp, heat, rain, wind or other threats to health, structural hazards, and disease vectors;
Availability of services, materials, facilities and infrastructure: Housing is not adequate if its occupants do not have safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, energy for cooking, heating and lighting, sanitation and washing facilities, means of food storage, refuse disposal, etc.;
Accessibility: Housing is not adequate if the specific needs of disadvantaged and marginalized groups are not taken into account (such as the poor, people facing discrimination; persons with disabilities, victims of natural disasters);
Location: Adequate housing must allow access to employment options, health-care services, schools, child-care centres and other social facilities and should not be built on polluted sites nor in immediate proximity to pollution sources;
Cultural adequacy: Adequate housing should respect and take into account the expression of cultural identity and ways of life..."
PDF: http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FS21_rev_1_Housing_en.pdf
When you've tried to resolve your problems.. and all fails... file a complaint with
http://nwthumanrights.ca/
NWT Human Rights Commission
Write:
PO Box 1860
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P4
E-mail: info@nwthumanrights.ca
Fax: 867-873-0357
Call:
Toll Free: 1-888-669-5575
Yellowknife: 867-669-5575
Visit:
Main Floor, Laing Building, 5003-49th Street
(Entrance on Franklin Street, next to Motor Vehicles.)
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/nwthrc
When you've tried to resolve your problems.. and all fails... file a complaint with
Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal
http://www.nhrt.ca/
All communications requesting information or relating to files must be through the Office of Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal. The Tribunal members do not respond to personal communications in relation to the Tribunal activities except during prearranged teleconferences, mediations and hearings.
Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal
PO Box 15
Coral Harbour, NU X0C 0C0
Hours of Operation:
April to October: 8:30 to 5:00 pm Central Standard Time
November to March: 8:30 to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Note: Coral Harbour, NU does not change time
1-888-220-1011 - Toll Free Fax
1-866-413-6478 - Toll-free Telephone
Email: nunavuthumanrights@gov.nu.ca
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