Our research explores Canada’s commitment to realizing the human right to adequate housing. By recognizing the right to housing in the National Housing Strategy (NHS) and the NHS Act, Canada is addressing housing needs and vulnerability in a new way. This shift raises important questions that we seek to address.
Work highlights
- Eviction prevention in community housing. Evictions can breach the right to housing because they involve a loss of housing, are a risk factor for homelessness, and exacerbate vulnerabilities. We explored how community housing providers work to prevent evictions from taking place.
- Realizing the right to housing for vulnerable groups. Canada’s adoption of the right to housing requires focusing on the most vulnerable, including 12 groups identified in the NHS. In this research, we explored the housing vulnerability of 2SLGBTQ+ refugees.
- Conceptualizing the right to housing. We have systematically examined international sources to understand the content and outcomes of human rights-based approaches to housing. This study explored how theory has been applied to housing literature.
- Homelessness as a breach of the right to housing. A sustainable and resilient community housing sector is key to addressing Canada’s homelessness crisis. We have considered why this crisis continues, despite renewed public investments.
Research Team
Damian Collins
Research Lead
In addition to directing CHC, Damian leads Area 1, and has studied eviction prevention, housing adequacy, and vulnerability.
Cynthia Puddu
Co-Investigator
Cynthia researches community health, and has worked in partnership with Indigenous-led housing organizations in Edmonton.
Katie MacDonald
Co-Investigator
Katie researches the experiences of frontline housing workers in community housing organizations across Canada.
Rob Shields
Co-Investigator
Rob’s research explores spacial justice, including questions around equitable access to housing.
Jim Dunn
Co-Investigator
Jim is a community health researcher, interested in the key role housing plays in health outcomes.
Jacqueline Gahagan
Co-Investigator
Jacqueline’s research concerns housing access for older 2SLGBTQ+ adults, particularly at its intersection with health.
Students
Pablo Argibay Wikander
PhD Candidate
Pablo studies how the community housing sector can better support the housing needs of recent immigrants to Canada.
Meagan Miller
Master’s Student
Meagan studies how housing accessibility affects people with disabilities through community-based research.
Lauren Slevinsky
Research Assistant
Lauren assists with research on housing supply, accessible design and homelessness.
Isabella Grande
Research Assistant
Isabella completed her Undergraduate degree in 2025. Congratulations Isabella!
Rebecca Bolen
Research Assistant
Rebecca completed her Undergraduate degree in 2024. Congratulations Rebecca!
Dr. Laura Bates
PhD Student
Laura completed her PhD dissertation in 2024. Congratulations Laura!
Erika Cizek
Master’s Student
Erika completed her Master’s thesis in 2023. Congratulations Erika!
Kenna McDowell
Master’s Student
Kenna completed her Master’s thesis in 2022. Congratulations Kenna!
Lead Community Partners
Civida is the largest provider of community housing in Edmonton. Civida provides insights, data support, and collaboration to help achieve its mandate to provide safe, affordable housing for all who may need it.
The Alberta Seniors & Community Housing Association (ASCHA) supports seniors and community housing providers in Alberta. It offers advocacy, education, and resources to improve housing and services.
