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Michael Shapcott

2007 – year of housing for all?????

It’s a new year, and Canada has a new federal housing and homelessness minister. What would be the best new year’s resolution for the Hon. Monte Solberg, as he settles into his new office?

In recent years, growing homelessness and housing insecurity, along with effective political advocacy, has prompted politicians to create a patchwork of funding and programs. But the current dollars and programs don’t meet the scale of the national need, and the programs are often inconsistent, vague and sometimes even contradictory.

The Wellesley Institute’s latest national backgrounder on housing and homelessness says that a key priority for 2007 should be to push the bits and pieces of housing and homelessness funding into a comprehensive and fully-funded national housing program.

– Michael Shapcott

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Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott is Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation at Wellesley Institute. Michael has worked extensively in Toronto, in many parts of Canada, nationally and internationally on social innovation, the non-profit sector, civic engagement, housing and housing rights, poverty, social exclusion, urban health and health equity. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading community-based housing and homelessness experts. He is currently on secondment to the Princes' Charities Canada.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.