Safe, affordable, and accessible housing is a basic human right, yet for many Canadians living with disabilities, it remains out of reach. This report examines the legal frameworks shaping the right to housing in Canada, from international obligations under the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to domestic building codes and accessibility standards, identifying critical gaps in how housing need is defined and enforced.
Drawing on findings from the Canadian Survey on Disability and original survey research conducted with persons with disabilities, the report documents widespread infringements on access, occupancy, and exit rights. It finds that weak legal protections, inadequate income supports, and a shortage of accessible housing create compounding vulnerabilities, alongside a troubling cycle of under-enforcement of housing rights and over-enforcement of laws that destabilize tenure security. The report calls on governments, housing providers, landlords, and the real estate industry to work together to ensure people with disabilities have the protections and supports they need to live in housing that truly works for them.
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