UNB & Saint John community recognizes National Housing Day

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Yesterday was National Housing Day and members of UNB’s Housing Mobilization, Engagement and Resiliency Lab (HOME-RL) are coming together with the Faculty of Arts, the Lorenzo Society, the Greater Saint John Community Foundation and the Human Development Council to bring free events to “encourage the community to reflect on the importance of housing”. 

(UNB HOME-RL/Facebook)

What is National Housing Day?

National Housing Day is held on November 22 every year in Canada to recognize the efforts and work done by housing partners and organizations across the country in order to improve housing for all.

In Canada, over 235,000 people experience homeless on average each year, and Indigenous peoples are 11 times more likely than non-Indigenous peoples to use a homeless shelter.

Schedule of events

Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., a photography exhibit followed by a series of short talks by Drs. Tobin Haley, Julia Woodhall-Melnik and Rachel Bryant took place at the Saint John City Market.  For more information, contact homerl@unb.ca

On Wednesday, November 24 from 6 to 8 pm, everyone is encouraged to attend a screening of the documentary PUSH that highlights some of the reasons behind the current international housing crisis. Following the screening, there will be a Q & A period and discussion panel from Drs. Chloe Riser, Eric Weissman, Tobin Haley, and Ms. Cassandra Monette. The event takes place in Hazen Hall 239 and people are encouraged to get their free tickets through Eventbrite.  

Finally, on Friday, November 26, there will be a “thank you” event for people working in housing security in the area. Frontline workers, management, and staff working in Saint John’s non-profit housing and housing adjacent agencies are welcomed. The event takes place at the Teen Resource Centre at 28 Richmond Street from 12 to 2 p.m. 

Community members are reminded that if they plan on attending any of these events, they will need to have a piece of identification and proof of full COVID-19 immunization.

Emily is in her third-year of Political Science. She loves studying and academics which follows into her research work. She's an avid plant mom and a stern black coffee drinker. When she's not working or doing school work, you can find her listening to 70s music on vinyl and watching Parks and Recreation.