“Muslims are presently the second largest & fastest group in affordable housing (according to Cividia’s 2018 Wellbeing Report); their needs have not been addressed and the risk of this is endemic generational poverty. We want to build affordable housing that focuses on racialized/minorities/newcomers/women fleeing violence. These groups need housing for larger and extended families with integrated culturally appropriate supports for mental health, and pathways into market housing that align with their values.”
Context
The Islamic Family Social Services Association (IFSSA), in partnership with Intelligent Futures, Another Way, SAS Architecture, and Ask for a Better World, are collaborating to deliver the Halal Housing Solutions Lab – funded by CMHC. This lab intends to broaden the definition of affordable housing, reimaging what is within the realm of possibility while also developing a replicable housing solution that can meet the needs of Canadians from coast, to coast, to coast soon.
Housing is a basic human right, but affordable housing solutions often fail to meet the needs of families who fall outside the bounds of the ‘traditional family’ structure. Currently, limited viable options can accommodate larger, extended families who want to live under the same roof. Yet, exploring affordable housing solutions that can meet these needs makes sense when considering the broader implications that such a solution could have for marginalized groups and newcomers. Yet, exploring affordable housing solutions that can meet these needs makes sense when considering the broader implications that such a solution could have for marginalized groups and newcomers. The Halal Housing Solution Lab will explore the following challenge question:
‘How do we leverage civil-society to design, build & sustain appropriate affordable housing for racialized/multi-barriered communities?’
The Complex Challenge
Through a collaborative, innovative process, this Solutions Lab will take a holistic approach to understand the factors that influence the challenge question at hand. These factors include:
Through the Lab process, an interdisciplinary group of individuals will come together to collaboratively explore this complex system, co-create and test solutions. The intended result is a roadmap that reflects the learning of the Lab and provides other Canadian communities with ideas, models and solutions that can be applied to help improve housing across the country.