Episode Zero: The Best Evidence for a Better World
Fixing up housing policy - from research to realityShow Notes
Cynthia Belaskie and Robbie Brydon share what the show is all about: the messy place where evidence meets policy in income security and housing. Dr. Jim Dunn, Director of the McMaster Institute for Health Equity and the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative, joins them to talk about the origin of the show and some of the cases he has encountered where evidence can inform what’s needed, but doesn’t clearly tell governments and decision-makers what to do.
More from Fixing up housing policy - from research to reality
More and more older Canadians are struggling to stay in their homes. Sarah Canham is the project director for the Aging in the right place partnership. She is a CHEC node leader whose primary focus is housing and homelessness among Canada’s rapidly growing aging population.
Born and raise in Yellowknife, Julia Christensen is working to help northern residents take back their housing. For communities across the Canadian North, housing insecurity is an undeniable public policy priority and human rights issue.
The tables are turned in this episode. Host Jim Dunn is in the hot seat, interviewed by Damian Collins. Jim talks about his journey to housing research, and his focus on data that leads to solutions to our housing crisis.
Dr. Damian Collins believes that if we realize the right to housing for all Canadians, we will be a much more successful, inclusive and equitable society. He also believes that goal is within our reach. Damian is a human geographer who is passionate about the issues of housing and homelessness, especially in urban contexts.
Dr. Catherine Leviten-Reid focuses on affordable housing and vulnerable populations. She is passionate about rural and smaller communities including her home base of Sydney, Nova Scotia.