Project description

21FSP worked with Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada for two years between 2024 and 2026 to complete a series of national and international research studies on gaps in the housing continuum for Inuit women, gender diverse Inuit, and their families across Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit Circumpolar Regions, and in urban centres across Canada.

All studies received relevant research ethics approvals and licenses as required by the regions in which the research was being undertaken.

The three studies culminated in the development of a National Housing and Shelters Advocacy Strategy that 21FSP co-led the development of with Pauktuutit. The Advocacy Strategy identified key messages, initiatives, and advocacy objectives supported by detailed implementation plans for government relations, national communication campaigns, capacity building, community engagement, and partnership building. 21FSP was retained to support the organization through implementation of the strategy including support for the launch of a communications campaign, government relations outreach, partnership building and engagements throughout Inuit Nunangat.

Our work for Pauktuutit included:

Literature and Methodology Review

The Literature Review examined more than 500 secondary sources on Indigenous housing and original archival research. The study covered the history of housing interventions for Indigenous people across Canada with an additional layer of research specific to Inuit women, gender diverse Inuit, and their families (including regional analysis). It also reviewed current policy and funding approaches to housing across Inuit Nunangat and systematically compared housing outcomes (crowding, repairs needed, shelter admissions, and other indicators) across regions and between Inuit Nunangat and the south.

The objective for the study was to explain housing challenges for Inuit. It used Pauktuutit’s Inuit-specific GBA+ framework and included a review of methodologies used across the literature to identify gaps in current research practices and data. The details of each source examined were captured in a comprehensive database and dashboard that provided Pauktuutit with an in-house library of all available sources on Indigenous housing in Canada.

Comparative Study of Indigenous Housing and Well-being in the Indigenous Circumpolar Regions

The comparative study was a comprehensive jurisdictional scan that examined the history and policy outcomes of various governments’ approaches to Indigenous well-being and housing across the circumpolar region to draw out best practices for the Government of Canada.

Housing Continuum Study - The Housing Gaps for Inuit Women, Gender Diverse Inuit, and their Families

The Continuum report built on the findings of the previous two studies and integrated findings from a national engagement process with shelter operators, urban Indigenous organization leadership, regional Inuit treaty organization leadership and housing organizations, and federal organizations to identify gaps along the housing continuum for Inuit women. This report included regionally specific and urban centre-specific assessments of housing attainability based on available data and data sourced through primary research (surveys). While the Literature Review explored the historical context and explanation for housing gaps, the Continuum Study provided a comprehensive snapshot of housing availability along the full housing continuum, from emergency shelters to homeownership, outlining where gaps are most conspicuous and broaching recommendations for mitigating gaps.

National Housing and Shelters Advocacy Strategy and Action Plans

21FSP worked collaboratively with Pauktuutit to develop a National Housing and Shelter Advocacy Strategy and Action Plans that distilled the findings from the three studies into areas of focus for advocacy through government relations, communication campaigns, community engagement, partnership building, and capacity building. Phased action plans were developed along with implementation plans with success metrics, timelines, and resources required for each action. An implementation tracking tool was developed in Excel to support staff in reporting on progress made.

National Housing and Shelter Advocacy Strategy Implementation Support - Communications, GR, and Engagement Support.

21FSP was contracted to support implementation of the National Housing and Shelters Advocacy Strategy, which included management of a government relations and national advertising campaign “Housing is our right in Inuit Nunangat” across social media, earned media, and other advertising channels. This work included production of a campaign video that is available here. 21FSP is currently supporting implementation through facilitating partnership-building and engagements to share research findings back to those who participated in the studies across Inuit Nunangat.