THREAD: All this talk about emergency housing for homeless, but we've seen in #yyj how housing can make things worse. Reflecting on the collective demands for housing from SIC tent city (2018) in the era of #COVID19

Quality of housing matters!
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1. We need self-determination and control over our own homes. We need to be treated as adults, tenancies covered by the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA). Strong tenant councils should govern operations.

2. We need affordable housing and not institutional, supportive housing. Punative, paternalistic, and institutional rules create homes that are not welcoming or safe. We need to treated as capable human beings, as "normal" renters, because we are!

3. We need permanent homes and not temporary shelters or transitional housing. We are often offered temporary shelter with beurocratic processes for getting a bed. We need to feel secure without risk of eviction.

4. No policing or surveillance in housing. We need to be treated as people and not criminals. No police involvement in housing. Our guests are our friends and family. We need to be able to have guests over without sign ins, checks, and searches.

5. We need processes of accountability for housing providers. We need a process for making independent complaints that will not impact our housing. No daily rule changes/arbitrary rules. No applying rules differently to different people.

6. We need better and more diverse housing options. A one-size-fits-all model of congregate housing doesn't work for everyone. Some people would like to shelter outside, or micro housing, or collective housing so street family can stay together.

7. Elements of good housing:
Privacy and space
Proper maintenance
Pets allowed
Guests allowed
Couples can stay together
Can cook own food in room
Workshop space
Communal space
Private bathrooms
Secure storage