Creating Homes for Healthy Living: A Comparison of Housing Models for Women

Mounting evidence shows that women with low incomes have acute housing needs, are at greater risk of living in unsafe and unhealthy environments and require specific supports to achieve stable and affordable housing. Over the past several years, researchers at the Prairie Women's Centre of Excellence have been investigating the effects of changing housing policies on the health of women. One of the key findings from this research is the importance of developing housing models in consultation with women living in poverty.

In a report entided Women Need Safe, Stable, and Affordable Housing: a study of social, private and co-op housing in Winnipeg, researchers from the Prairie Women's Centre of Excellence and the Women's Health Clinic explore women's experiences with social, private and co-op housing in Winnipeg. Through a series of focus groups with low-income women, this study explores women's experiences with different housing models. The study identified safety, affordability and suitability as important elements of housing for women and the need for housing policy that reflects these priorities.

The report investigates the intersections among housing, poverty and health and describes how inadequate housing prevents women from addressing their other health concerns. In addition to describing the findings of the research study, the report also provides an overview of housing policies in Canada and presents policy recommendations for creating housing models that reflect the needs of women living in poverty. In particular, the study describes cooperative housing as a model that may provide promise for assisting women with low incomes to gain skills and to improve their health and economic status.

A copy of the full report, Women Need Safe, Stable, Affordable Housing: a study of social, private, and co-op housing in Winnipeg, can be downloaded at: www.pwhce.ca/research.htm, or contact:

Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence

56 The Promenade

Winnipeg, MB

Canada R3B 3H9

www.pwhce.ca

Tel: (204) 982-6630

Fax: (204) 982-6637

pwhce@uwinnipeg.ca

Molly McCracken, Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence, and Gail Watson, Women's Health Clinic

Copyright Centres of Excellence for Women's Health Spring 2005
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