A Long Way Still to Go

Housing Affordability for Canadian Women on IWD 2025

Its 2025 and another International Women’s Day drifts by. Lots of social media posts evidence of the fact that, YES, women do work here and YES we think they are great, and strong, and smart BUT hold on – if this is all so true why then does it feel like we are slipping backwards.  

The Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada was created in 1967, to ensure equal opportunities for women in all aspects of the Canadian society. According to the Government of Canada website “The creation of this commission might not have happened without the collective efforts of feminist activists nation-wide, who were fed up with their unequal status and who envisioned a more inclusive Canada in which women could grow, achieve and thrive without limits.” with over 167 recommendations on issues of legal rights, education  and employment, political representation and violence against women, this work was historic in its breath and laid the ground for much progress.

58 Years later what has changed? Women face newer barriers that require a national and concerted effort:

1. STEM and emerging technologies like AI,  
2. cyber harassment and online rights are at risk,
3. gender bias in algorithms leading to discrimination,
4. climate change disproportionately impacts women, especially rural and Indigenous communities,
5. gig and remote work  has created new vulnerabilities for women in terms of job security,
6. new reproductive technologies bring new ethical challenges, and
7. intersectionality has integrated anti-racism, disability rights and LGBTQ+ rights with gender equality.  

This is not an exhaustive list – it just means that the issues impacting women have become more complex and neither public policy nor regulatory measures alone have proven sufficient. Still today in Ontario the gender pay gap in Ontario is 25% on average, despite Ontario’s Pay Equity Act enactment in 1987 to eliminate gender discrimination and recognize the value of women’s worth.

In my day job at CivicAction we have drawn attention to a matter of utmost criticality Mission: Affordable. The Royal Commission on the Status of Women (1967-1970) did not specifically address housing affordability, but in 2025, it has become a major issue for women, especially single mothers, seniors, and marginalized groups. Rising housing costs, gender pay gaps, and economic insecurity disproportionately affect women, making it harder to access stable and affordable housing.

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1. Why is Housing Affordability a Gendered Issue?

Women are more vulnerable to housing instability due to:

• Gender Pay Gap: Women in Canada still earn about 87 cents for every dollar men make, making homeownership and rent payments more difficult.
• Higher Poverty Rates: Women—especially single mothers, Indigenous women, and seniors—face a higher risk of poverty.
• Domestic Violence & Housing Insecurity: Women escaping domestic violence often struggle to find safe, affordable housing, leading to homelessness or forced dependence on abusive partners.
• Caregiving Responsibilities: Many women take unpaid caregiving roles, reducing their earnings and ability to afford stable housing.
• Racial and Economic Inequalities: Black, Indigenous, and immigrant women experience higher eviction rates and housing discrimination.

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2. Housing Challenges Women Face in 2025

Rising Rental and Homeownership Costs

• As of 2025, rent in major Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal has skyrocketed.
• Women-led households spend a higher percentage of their income on rent, often exceeding the 30% affordability threshold.
• Homeownership is increasingly out of reach due to high down payments and mortgage rates.

Gendered Homelessness

• Women’s homelessness is often hidden—many women couch-surf, stay in unstable relationships for housing, or rely on shelters.
• Senior women are at growing risk of homelessness due to low pensions and high living costs.
• Indigenous women are disproportionately homeless due to systemic barriers in employment, land rights, and discrimination.

Domestic Violence and Housing Access

• Many women fleeing domestic abuse cannot find emergency shelter space or affordable housing afterward.
• A lack of transitional housing forces survivors to return to unsafe living conditions.

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3. Solutions and Policy Changes

Government Housing Programs for Women

• National Housing Strategy (2017-Present): The federal government launched programs to increase affordable housing options, including funding for women’s shelters and low-income housing.
• Women’s Housing Initiatives: Some provinces are prioritizing women and gender-diverse people in new affordable housing projects.
• $10-a-Day Childcare Plan (2021-Present): Though not directly related, cheaper childcare helps women save for housing.

Women-Led Housing Cooperatives and Nonprofits

• Nonprofits and women-led housing cooperatives are working to create safe, affordable rental options for low-income women.
• Organizations like YWCA Canada focus on gender-sensitive housing solutions, particularly for single mothers and domestic violence survivors.

Stronger Legal Protections

• Strengthened tenant protections in provinces like B.C. and Ontario aim to prevent evictions and unfair rent increases.
• Governments are cracking down on discrimination against single mothers and low-income women in rental applications.

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4. Future Challenges and Needed Reforms

While progress has been made, more needs to be done to ensure housing affordability for women in 2025 and beyond:

• More low-income housing units for women.
• Better support for women leaving domestic violence.
• Stronger rent control measures to stop predatory landlords.
• Higher minimum wages and pay equity laws to close the income gap.
• Increased funding for housing programs targeting single mothers, seniors, and Indigenous women.

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In 2021 the median income for women in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Are was between $37,000 and $38,000 – that’s below the poverty line and well below what any household would need to afford to rent a two or three bedroom apartment. By 2022, approximately 39% of full-time employed women earned $50,000 to $75,000.

Housing affordability is a growing gendered issue in Canada. Women, especially single mothers, seniors, and racialized women, are disproportionately affected by rising rent and home prices. While government programs, nonprofits, and legal protections are helping, the crisis is far from solved, and stronger policies are needed to make housing more accessible for women.

While the 1967 Royal Commission on the Status of Women laid the foundation for many rights women enjoy today, new challenges and opportunities have emerged in the digital, economic, and environmental landscape. The fight for gender equality continues to evolve, requiring updated policies, activism, and global cooperation.