Aboriginal Women and Urban Housing: Realizing the Community Benefits

Abstract

Aboriginal women's housing issues profoundly affect the safety, health, and wellbeing of entire families. For low-income women who occupy marginal positions within the city, there is a particular urgency to access safe and affordable quality housing. In recent decades, evidence has shown that there are many links between housing and health. There is significant data highlighting deficiencies in the quality and availability of social and affordable housing within urban centres. The personal testimonies of Aboriginal women tenants living in housing developed by two urban Aboriginal housing organizations, one in Regina, Saskatchewan and one in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, constitute the main focus of my inquiry. The research findings suggest that Aboriginal women experience a greater level of comfort when they rent from Aboriginal housing providers. The women indicate that these agencies demonstrate a greater capacity to provide adequate housing and services that respect their values and cultural heritage. As a result, Aboriginal women are more inclined to stay in housing delivered by Aboriginal housing providers. Adequate housing helps to foster a sense of security and is a catalyst for Aboriginal women and their families to become established in their neighbourhoods. As well, housing stability permits Aboriginal women to access a wide-range of services and it generates a momentum towards salubrious living, better employment and educational advancement.