Housing need is experienced when people live in housing that is unaffordable, in need of repair, or overcrowded. Poor housing conditions are associated with a wide range of health conditions in children, including asthma, lead poisoning, injuries and poor mental health.[1],[2] For parents, stable, affordable housing is important for securing a job and providing a supportive home for raising children and youth.
Families living in Core Housing Need |
About the MeasureA home is in Core Housing Need if it does not meet one or more of the affordability, adequacy, or suitability standards.[3] Affordability means that the total housing costs are less than 30% of the family’s before-tax household income. Adequacy means that the home is not in need of any major repairs, as reported by the resident. Suitability means that there are enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of the residents. A household is not in Core Housing Need if it meets all three standards or if it has enough income to find alternative local housing that meets all three standards. Key FindingsA lower percentage of couple families with children in Wellington (2.0%) live in Core Housing Need compared to families in Dufferin (4.9%) and Guelph (5.4%). This trend is also true for lone parent families with at least one child younger than 18 years of age. Compared to Guelph (35.3%) and Dufferin (38.0%), Wellington (25.6%) has the lowest percentage of lone parent families with at least one child under 18 who live in Core Housing Need. Data at the municipal level can be found in the downloadable Excel file at the bottom of this page
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Source: Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation, 2016. Core Housing Need. Census of Canada (database). Statistics Canada Catalogue. Community Data Program (distributor). Last updated January 9, 2019. www.communitydata.ca. (accessed January 9, 2019). LimitationsThe measure “couple families with children” does not define the ages of the children. As a result, data for this family type may include couple families with adult children.
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[1] Krieger, J., & Higgins, D. L. (2002). Housing and health: time again for public health action. American journal of public health, 92(5), 758-768.
[2] Leventhal, T., & Newman, S. (2010). Housing and child development. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(9), 1165-1174.
[3] Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2014). Housing in Canada online. Available at: http://cmhc.beyond2020.com/HiCODefinitions_EN.html#_Core_Housing_Need_Status