Kaiden

"Housing is the aspect of my life that holds the most power." The inability to access adequate shelter disproportionately affects marginalized groups, despite the Parliament passing the National Housing Strategy Act in 2019. The act acknowledges housing as a human right, but as Kaiden points out, "You kind of have to fight for housing”. The struggles faced in securing housing are compounded by systemic inequities, with over 1,300 families left homeless on Moving Day in Montreal in 2024 (1).

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Commodification of housing and identity

19% of transgender people reported being denied housing due to their identity, and 11% were evicted for the same reason

The commodification of housing adds another layer of complexity, where socioeconomic status plays a decisive role in securing a home. The barriers can feel insurmountable for those without a stable income or generational wealth. "If your parents don’t have good jobs or good credit, that affects you". Housing applications often “become like a job interview”,  with landlords holding power due to high demand. As long as housing remains a commodity, it will continue to foster inequities. 

"I think it's hard because I don’t believe most landlords want to give me housing since transitioning." This experience reflects broader trends, as 19% of transgender people reported being denied housing due to their identity, and 11% were evicted for the same reason (2). In Canada, racialized trans individuals often face compounded discrimination in the private rental market due to both racism and transphobia (3). “When I came out as trans, my parents disowned me and kicked me out. [...] When you're not even allowed in your parents' home, feels like a whole other level of difficulty.” 

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Hidden vulnerability in the housing system

Vulnerability in the housing system is felt by many who rely on informal arrangements to secure a roof over their heads. Kaiden reflected, "I've always found housing through other people… I'm not on the lease for this place or the place before that." This reliance on others for housing creates a precarious situation, where individuals have little to no tenant rights and are at constant risk of being displaced. Such instability contributes to the overall fear and anxiety surrounding housing access, which, as Kaiden noted, "constantly occupies space in my mind."

For Kaiden, the housing crisis has become a normalized part of life. "I've just accepted it so much as a reality," they said, expressing the pervasive fear of losing housing. Housing instability has become such a constant for some that it affects their mental health, with over 61% of respondents in a recent survey reporting the negative impact of housing pressures on their well-being (4). This fear of losing housing is not just an individual experience but reflects a broader societal issue, where people feel they are merely "lucky" to have a home for now, unsure of what the future holds.

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Couch-surfing and hidden homelessness

Many young people navigating the housing crisis find themselves resorting to couch-surfing. As Kaiden shared, "I think it was about 4 or 5 months after I graduated, and I was mainly just couch-surfing between friends' places during that period. I would rather be on a friend's couch than have my own place if it means I'm not going to be safe." Hidden homelessness, such as couch-surfing, is often underreported but represents a significant part of the housing crisis, particularly for youth. Research suggests that young people experiencing housing precarity are more likely to engage in temporary, unstable living situations rather than accessing shelters, making the true extent of youth homelessness difficult to capture (5).

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