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Press Release
February 9, 2004
From the Prairie Women's Health Centre of
Excellence and the Women's Health Clinic
Women need safe, stable, affordable housing, new study finds
Researchers call on government to address women's specific housing needs
Women with low incomes have acute housing needs and are at greater risk
of living in unsafe and unhealthy environments, says a new study
conducted by the Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence (PWHCE) and
the Women's Health Clinic (WHC). More women than men live in poverty
and experience difficulty finding and affording suitable housing. In
order to better meet women's needs, the study authors, Molly McCracken
and Gail Watson recommend that federal, provincial and city governments
need to adopt gender-based analysis for all new housing policies and
programs.
A new report titled, Women Need Safe, Stable, Affordable Housing: A
study of social, private and co-op housing in Winnipeg, will be released
at 11:45 a.m. on February 12, at the Manitoba Women's Advisory Council's
Lunch and Learn presentation, 155 Carlton Street, concourse level,
Winnipeg, MB.
"We want governments at all levels to adopt gender-based analyses of
housing policies and programs to address equality issues and acknowledge
women's specific housing needs," says Molly McCracken, researcher at
PWHCE. "Women's housing needs will continue to intensify unless
substantial action is taken. The proportion of female-headed renter
households paying 30% or more of their household income on housing has
increased and comprises 45% of Canadian households with core housing
need."
The study also identifies which housing models and practices better meet
women's needs and which do not. The effects of different housing
policies on Winnipeg women's health and well-being, economic security
and skills are documented in the report. Gail Watson, of the WHC says,
"since women are the higher percentage of renters, new housing should be
built to meet the needs of lower income women renters and eliminate the
waiting lists for cooperative and public housing units. Women need to
have access to affordable private market housing, public housing and
cooperative housing."
In addition to the recommendation to implement gender-based analysis in
all housing policies and programs, other recommendations of the report
include creating affordable housing options for women with low incomes,
participatory decision-making processes, and restructuring social
assistance and disability assistance policies to meet the basic housing
needs of recipients.
For the completed study visit www.pwhce.ca or www.womenshealthclinic.org
For author interviews contact:
Molly McCracken,
Researcher,
Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence
(204) 982-6632
m.mccracken@uwinnipeg.ca
Gail Watson,
Women, Poverty and Health Project Coordinator, Women's Health Clinic
(204) 947-2422, ext. 134
gailwatson@womenshealthclinic.org
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