Good afternoon. Thank you for having me today. Being here is an honour and a privilege.
I am a military spouse; however, beyond that, I strive to advocate and assist fellow military spouses and members of the defence community in advocacy, policy awareness and assistance.
I appreciate that today's discussion surrounds the housing crisis that's currently happening and precisely how that is affecting the CAF community. I have had the unique opportunity to hear many of the stories and struggles that CAF families experience regarding housing. I hope I can highlight some of those factors today. You will notice much of the information I'm going to provide surrounds the RHUs, and I trust that some of the other individuals can share some of the other factors.
First, the need for RHUs on many bases, and predominantly those that are situated in higher-cost locations, creates extreme stress for many families. Given the unique nature of military life, a family's financial climate can look different from post to post. For example, some provinces have additional requirements for job portability for regulated professionals such as nurses, counsellors, ECEs, or social workers. A spouse may be able to work efficiently in one region, but not in the other, thus affecting the type of home a family may need to acquire. Specific to those families requesting RHUs with children or dependants with medical needs, medical care may be delayed until a legal address is acquired by the family and can have medical implications for the family and individuals seeking ongoing medical care.
In addition, some RHUs have mould or poor ventilation, which can contribute to aggravating one's health conditions or create health challenges for families. For some bases there is greater compassion for medical needs, and in others, based on the experience of other CAF families, they've come up against roadblocks or barriers. When a family is placed on the RHU list, they are placed on a first-come, first-served basis. This does not take into account one's personal family situation. While some families do not have medical needs or require accommodations, many do. Many families have expressed that CFHA does not take into account the family's medical needs or personal situation, or places barriers to care, which can result in additional stressors or emotional fatigue for the family.
In some situations, the families coming in from an OUTCAN have a hard date by which they are required to depart the originating country. Without housing, a family would be placed in a very difficult and stressful situation.
Another factor that affects the CAF community is that the military member actually owns the RHU. In situations of intimate partner violence, this creates an inequitable, and I would cautiously say, human rights issue. It is often the policy of CFHA to suggest to the victims of intimate partner violence that they remove themselves and live in a shelter or seek other accommodations.
Given the geographic moves that come with CAF life, this creates a problematic situation as a spouse may not have the financial means to relocate immediately, or if children are involved, the ability to seek housing on the economy. The public knowledge of this policy creates a potentially unsafe environment as spouses are often cautious to leave an abusive situation because the member owns the RHU, perpetuating the cycle of abuse.
We've often heard the tag line that living on base is a privilege, not a right. While I sincerely acknowledge the privilege of living on a military base at a reduced rate, I would gently suggest that housing is one of the most significant stressors for military families. Families may have short posts, children with special needs or other complexities, that prohibit them from living off base at a higher economic cost. Currently housing is neither equitable or accessible, and more accessibility would decrease the stressors for both CAF families and their members.
Thank you.