Enhancing Women's Economic Participation Through Housing
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Building Capacity: Enhancing Women’s Economic Participation Through Housing Canadian Housing and Renewal Association Prepared by Laura C. Johnson and Allison Ruddock School of Planning, University of Waterloo The research and publication of this study were funded by Status of Women Canada’s Policy Research Fund. This document expresses the views of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official policy of Status of Women Canada or the Government of Canada. September 2000 Status of Women Canada is committed to ensuring that all research produced through the Policy Research Fund adheres to high methodological, ethical and professional standards. The research must also make a unique, value-added contribution to current policy debates, and be useful to policy makers, researchers, women’s organizations, communities and others interested in the policy process. Each paper is anonymously reviewed by specialists in the field and comments are solicited on: • the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of the information presented; • the extent to which the analysis and recommendations are supported by the methodology used and the data collected; • the original contribution that the report would make to existing work on this subject, and its usefulness to equality- seeking organizations, advocacy communities, government policy makers, researchers and other target audiences. Status of Women Canada thanks those who contributed to this peer review process. Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Johnson, Laura Climenko, 1943- Building Capacity [computer file]: Enhancing Women’s Economic Participation Through Housing Issued also in French under title: La création de capacités : accroître la participation des femmes à la vie économique par le logement Includes bibliographical references. Issued also in print format. ISBN 0-662-28615-4 (Print format) Cat. no. SW21-48/2000E (Print format) Mode of access: WWW site of Status of Women Canada 1. Poor women — Housing — Canada. 2. Poor women — Employment —Canada. 3. Women — Canada — Economic conditions. 4. Women — Housing — Canada. I. Ruddock, Allison. II. Canadian Housing and Renewal Association. III. Canada. Status of Women Canada. IV. Title. HQ1381.5C3J56 2000 339.5082’0971 C00-980097-2 Project Manager: Nora Hammell, Status of Women Canada Publishing Coordinator: Mary Trafford, Status of Women Canada Editing: PMF Editorial Services Inc. / PMF Services de rédaction inc. Translation: PMF Editorial Services Inc. / PMF Services de rédaction inc. For more information contact: Research Directorate Status of Women Canada 350 Albert Street, 5th Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1C3 Telephone: (613) 995-7835 Facsimile: (613) 957-3359 TDD: (613) 996-1322 E-mail: [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE...................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................... v LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS......................................................... vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................... vii 1. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................1 Purposes of the Study................................................................................................1 Research Methods .....................................................................................................2 Scope of Study ..........................................................................................................2 Organization of Report ..............................................................................................3 Research Design and Methodology ............................................................................4 2. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ..........................................................................7 Women and Their Housing Experience ......................................................................9 Women and Their Labour Force Participation.......................................................... 11 Women and Training and Education......................................................................... 12 Women and Volunteer Work ................................................................................... 12 Volunteer Work in the Housing Sector .................................................................... 13 Housing and Economic Participation........................................................................ 14 A Case for Partnerships............................................................................................ 14 Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 16 3. INVENTORY OF INITIATIVES: APPROACHES FOR COMBINING HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS .............................. 17 Range and Variety of Approaches............................................................................ 17 Housing as a Stable Environment for Supportive Services........................................ 17 Job Training or Employment in Housing Rehabilitation, Management or Related Services .............................................................................................. 21 Job Training and Housing Assistance as Part of Comprehensive Community Revitalization.................................................................................... 26 Themes Emerging from the Models.......................................................................... 29 Conclusion............................................................................................................... 31 4. CASE STUDIES ..................................................................................................... 32 VanCity Place for Youth.......................................................................................... 32 Sandy Merriman House............................................................................................ 34 Entre Nous Femmes................................................................................................. 37 Security Program..................................................................................................... 39 Just Housing............................................................................................................ 40 ii Tenant Involvement Plan.......................................................................................... 42 Training and Employment Initiative.......................................................................... 44 Five by Five............................................................................................................. 45 Monquarters at Work .............................................................................................. 47 Community Business Program ................................................................................. 48 5. WHAT WE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING............ 51 Issues in Housing..................................................................................................... 51 Motivations for Involvement in Housing-Based Employment Supports .................... 53 Achievements .......................................................................................................... 53 Challenges to Combining Housing with Employment Supports................................. 66 Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 70 6. WHAT WE HEARD FROM HOUSING EXPERTS AND PROGRAM MANAGERS....................................................................................... 71 Combining Employment Supports with Affordable Housing..................................... 71 Types of Employment Opportunities........................................................................ 77 Recommended Supports .......................................................................................... 78 Funding ................................................................................................................... 79 Evaluation ............................................................................................................... 80 Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 82 7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................... 83 Conclusions ............................................................................................................. 83 Summary of Conclusions ......................................................................................... 83 Directions for Further Study .................................................................................... 87 BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................... 89 APPENDIXES A: Current Canadian Initiatives..................................................................................... 96 B: Telephone Interview Questionnaire for Managers................................................... 105 C: Thank You Letter .................................................................................................. 109 D: Letter of Recruitment to Organizations .................................................................