250 Submissions and Counting: A Milestone for Gendered Housing Justice
We’re thrilled to share a powerful milestone: the Neha Review Panel has received over 250 written submissions as part of its national review on the right to housing for women, Two-Spirit, trans, and gender-diverse people.
This achievement is a testament to the courage, strength, and advocacy of lived experts across the country who contributed their stories, research, and recommendations. It wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of our Community Champions, and the many people who showed up at our in-person testimony gatherings to share their truths.
You made this happen—and we are so grateful.
Our Written Submission
As part of the Neha Review Panel’s national dialogue on the right to housing, the Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network submitted a detailed written testimony rooted in the lived experiences of women, Two-Spirit, trans, and gender-diverse people facing housing precarity across Canada.
Our submission highlights how systemic discrimination, gender-based violence, colonialism, and poverty intersect to create unique and deeply entrenched barriers to housing.
Drawing from community consultations, research, and frontline expertise, we offered clear, actionable recommendations to fulfill the government’s human rights obligations—including investing in women-centred housing, ensuring equitable access to supports, and recognizing housing as both a site and solution to gender-based violence.
Read Housing Justice Starts with Us here.
What’s Next: Oral Dialogues Begin June 16
Following the close of the written dialogue on April 11, 2025, the Neha Review Panel has released submissions from individuals and organizations who provided consent to publish. Since May 30, the written dialogue record is available on the National Housing Council’s website.
But that’s not all.
The next stage of the review process includes a series of virtual oral dialogues, beginning on June 16. These dialogues will be livestreamed and publicly accessible, with recordings and session details posted online.
The June 16 dialogue will feature:
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The Federal Housing Advocate, who initiated the review,
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The Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network, and
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The National Indigenous Women’s Housing Network—the two networks whose submissions formed the foundation for this national review.
Additional dialogues will follow on June 20, 23, and 30, with participation from lived experts, service providers, researchers, and advocates. Each session will tackle key issues impacting the right to housing for women, Two-Spirit, trans, and gender-diverse people in Canada.
To learn more about session dates, topics, and livestream links, visit the National Housing Council’s website.
Looking Ahead
This summer, Neha will also convene local dialogues in partnership with non-profit and Indigenous organizations. These events will continue to build on the momentum of the written and oral submissions and ensure that the voices of those most impacted remain at the centre of this work.
We want to extend our deepest thanks to everyone who submitted testimony, attended a gathering, supported a Community Champion, or helped spread the word. Your contributions are not only shaping this review—they are shaping the future of housing policy in Canada.
The insights shared throughout this process will inform the Review Panel’s interim report later in 2025, and ultimately, Neha’s final recommendations to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure.
Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing more information on how to tune in for the June 16 oral dialogue soon. In the meantime, take a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together—and what comes next.
