One Step Further: An Overview of Canada’s Past and Present Responses to Homelessness and the Argument for Alternative Conceptions of Property Ownership

This article examines the evolution of Canada’s responses to homelessness—from punitive approaches to more contemporary, human rights-based strategies—and argues that current responses remain inadequate to solve the pervasive issue. Billard contends that without addressing the underlying drivers of homelessness, including poverty, housing financialization, and systemic discrimination, Canada’s housing crisis will persist despite legal and policy reforms. The paper ultimately calls for a shift away from viewing housing as a commodity and toward recognizing it as a collective resource and a fundamental human right.