Housing and Health

Understanding the Housing Crisis

The housing crisis in Canada is a significant public health concern, affecting both physical and mental well-being. It is characterized by a shortage of affordable homes, rapidly increasing prices, and rising rents, which have led to delayed home ownership, increased homelessness, and greater health inequalities.

• Key Causes:

  • Insufficient new housing construction relative to population growth

  • Restrictions on higher-density housing and increased construction timelines

  • Rapid population growth, especially in urban centers

  • Rising construction costs (labor, materials, borrowing)

  • Urban concentration and real estate investment competition

• Impacts:

  • Delayed home ownership and rising rental costs

  • Increased risk of homelessness

  • Negative effects on mental and physical health

  • Exacerbation of social inequality

• Government Responses:

  • Housing Accelerator Fund

  • First Home Savings Account (FHSA)

  • Zoning reforms and Build Canada Homes initiative

Home Price and Rent Changes

Home prices and rents have increased rapidly in major Canadian cities, making housing less accessible for many.

Homelessness and Precarious Housing

Homelessness is a visible indicator of the housing crisis, with significant impacts on health and quality of life. Precarious housing includes situations where individuals lack stable, safe, or affordable housing.

• Statistics:

  • 30,000–35,000+ people homeless nightly in Canada

  • 66.7% are males; 33.1% are Indigenous

  • Annual cost of homelessness exceeds $10 billion

• Health Impacts:

  • Reduced life expectancy

  • Exacerbation of mental health conditions

  • Barriers to employment and social relationships

Government Strategies for Homelessness

The Canadian government has implemented strategies to reduce chronic homelessness, focusing on affordable, stable, and safe housing, with special attention to Indigenous communities and alignment of housing initiatives.

Health Impacts of Housing Needs

Inadequate, crowded, and unaffordable housing can lead to aggressive behaviors, property offenses, diminished school performance, asthma, injury risks, and faster spread of communicable diseases. Unstable housing affects emotional health and academic outcomes, while inaccessible housing impacts independence and mobility.

Food Security and Health

Definition and Prevalence of Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is the inability to acquire or consume adequate diet quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, often due to financial constraints. It is a key predictor of unhealthy eating and a major determinant of health.

• 18.4% of Canadian households experience food insecurity

• 1 million children affected

• Most prevalent among Indigenous peoples, those in extreme poverty, single mothers, renters, and recipients of social assistance

Categories of Food Insecurity

• Marginal: Worry about running out of food, limited selection

• Moderate: Compromised quality and/or quantity of food

• Severe: Miss meals, reduce intake, go days without food

Food Insecurity and Income

Household income is the strongest predictor of food security status. Lower education levels and reliance on social assistance are also associated with higher prevalence of food insecurity.

Adverse Effects of Food Insecurity

• Nutrient inadequacies and poorer diets

• Childhood mental health problems (hyperactivity, inattention)

• Increased risk of asthma, depression, suicidal ideation

• Higher prevalence of chronic conditions (diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, back problems)

• Disordered eating patterns and increased overweight/obesity

Premature Mortality and Food Insecurity

• Severely food-insecure adults have an average lifespan 9 years shorter than food-secure adults

• Higher risk of premature mortality from infectious diseases, injuries, and suicides

Food Deserts

Food deserts are areas lacking access to healthy, nutritious food within one mile. Residents depend on convenience stores and fast food, which offer mostly processed foods, exacerbating food insecurity.

Foodborne Illness

Foodborne illnesses affect 4 million Canadians annually and can be caused by biological (bacteria, viruses, parasites), chemical (pesticides, toxic chemicals), physical (dirt, glass, metal), and food additives.

Programs Addressing Food Insecurity

• Food banks

• Community kitchens

• Community gardens

• Food buying clubs

• Farmers’ markets

• Food boxes

National Food Security Strategy

• Increase grocery store competition

• Boost domestic food production

• Grow fruits and vegetables year-round

• Reduce supply chain barriers

Policy Implications for Food Insecurity

• Increase minimum wage and social assistance

• Ensure healthy and safe foods are affordable and available

• Affordable housing and childcare to free up resources for food

• Improve food insecurity monitoring systems

Environmental Impacts on Health

Overpopulation and Environmental Management

Global population growth increases demand for resources and effective environmental management is needed to prevent diseases and deaths. Unsafe water and air pollution contribute to millions of preventable deaths annually.

Air Pollution

• Sources: Sulphur dioxide, particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, lead, hydrocarbons

• Health Effects: Difficulty breathing, burning eyes, headaches, nausea; vulnerable populations include children, elderly, pregnant women, and those with lung diseases

• Smog: Brown, hazy mix of particulates and gases; temperature inversion traps cool air under warm air

• Ozone Layer Depletion: Caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are banned in Canada

• Indoor Air Pollution: Wood stove smoke, asbestos, passive smoke, formaldehyde, radon, household chemicals

Reducing Air Pollution

• Transition to renewable resources: solar, wind, water-power

• Change practices in energy, industry, and transportation

Water Pollution

• Sources: septic systems, landfills, gasoline, petroleum products, dioxins, PCBs, lead

• Health impacts: contamination of drinking water, increased risk of disease

Noise Pollution

• Loud noises cause physical and mental distress

• Short-term exposure reduces productivity, concentration, and attention span

• Symptoms: sleep disturbance, headaches, negative health

• Prevention: reasonable music levels, earplugs, physical barriers

Land Pollution

• Municipal solid waste: reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose

• Hazardous waste: managed by Canadian Environmental Protection Agency

Radiation

• Ionizing Radiation: Exposure from nature, X-rays, TV; can damage genetic material

• Nonionizing Radiation: Household appliances, power lines; little known about biological effects

• Nuclear Power Plants: Less than 1% of total radiation exposure; concerns about waste disposal and meltdown risk

Interconnections: Housing, Food Security, and Environment

Summary and Take-Home Messages

• Housing and food insecurity are often linked, with vulnerable groups overrepresented

• Affordable housing is increasingly limited, leading to higher spending on housing and less money for food

• Food insecurity ranges from episodic to constant deprivation

• Food programs do not significantly reduce risk unless income and access to nutritious food are addressed

• Early childhood impacts later life health, growth, and development

• Environmental health impacts both individual and community health