Voices for housing justice - A community press conference in Montreal

Free City Radio

This is the audio from a community press conference that took place in Montreal in late June 2024 at Casa del Popolo, bringing together a network of community voices who advocate for housing justice through their organizing, research and activism. This media event launched a report on housing justice that was shaped by data, insights and information from a survey of 60 groups, organizations and collectives in Canada, you can find the report here: https://www.solidarityeconomy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/housing-design-draft-v4-EN-online.pdf The accompanying photo was taken at the press conference and is by Allen Bleich. The banner in the photo was painted by David Widgington. https://www.burningbillboard.art These are the voices that you hear in the audio: The research process and ideas that drove the report is outlined by a representative from SEIZE outlines the report. Stéphanie Barahona, of Le Front d'action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU) challenges the racist discourses that are being mobilized which target new immigrants and asylum seekers as the root of the housing crisis, instead pointing to a lack of meaningful policies in Quebec and Canada aimed at constructing much needed social and co-op housing. Hubert Gendron-Blais speaks on Réverbérations d'une crise: une enquête sonore sur le logement à Montréal: une enquête sonore sur le logement à Montréal, speaks about the project, learn more here: https://www.reverberationscriselogement.org Maggie Chittspattio speaks about the impacts of the housing crisis on Indigenous people in the city who are struggling with accessing housing, Maggie is the intervention and community program coordinator at Resilience Montreal. https://www.resiliencemontreal.com Sandra Wesley speaks about STELLA Montreal, an organization by and for sex workers. Sandra addresses the ways that the housing crisis impacts marginalized communities, including sex workers. Info on STELLA: https://chezstella.org Mostafa Henaway, an organizer at the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC) speaks about the ways that migrants are both being impacted by the housing crisis and are also facing racist scapegoating. Info on the IWC: https://iwc-cti.ca