Core Values

At the National Right to Housing Network, we are committed to fostering a workplace environment that is rooted in respect, integrity and a shared commitment to our mission of advancing the right to adequate housing for all. These core values – developed through a deeply collaborative process – serve as the foundation from which our network operates. They guide how staff interact with one another, with external partners, and the larger community at NRHN.  

 

1. Right to Housing: We are committed to ensuring that Canada can meaningfully realize the human right to adequate housing. We believe that the right to housing goes beyond a rallying cry – it is a set of concrete legal standards and norms by which Canada’s progress in addressing inadequate housing and homelessness can be measured. We believe that it is possible to end homelessness in Canada. This framework of the right to housing is at the core of every aspect of work at NRHN.

2. Upholding Human Rights Processes: We are committed to modeling our internal and public-facing practices and processes off of existing human rights frameworks. We are inspired by and committed to upholding frameworks established under international human rights law, in our efforts to advance the right to housing in Canada, and to maximize access to justice under the National Housing Strategy Act.

3. Connectivity and Solidarity: We are committed to expanding our role as the connective tissue within the right to housing movement through building and nurturing meaningful connections in efforts to collectively advance our shared goals, recognizing that our impact is built on the foundation of our relationships to one another as staff, and with Network partners.

4. Shared Accountability: We are committed to uphold our mission together, while also embracing our personal responsibility for how we show up in our work, our events, in communities, and for one another. We aim to create a respectful environment where we are aware of our impact on each other and committed to contributing positively to ensure we individually and collectively advance our goals for housing rights with respect and unity.

5. Adaptability: We are committed to staying flexible and responsive, embracing the ebb and flow of opportunities that arise to advance the human right to housing with tenacity and creativity. Our flexibility is the cornerstone of how we aim to make a lasting impact, allowing us to continuously evolve our strategies, while ensuring we’re always aligned with the current needs of those most impacted.

6. Transparency: We are committed to fostering transparency within our Network and in all our engagements. This means openly sharing our successes and challenges, as well as developing clear structures and processes to advance our goals. This approach works to build a foundation of trust, openness, clear documentation, and accountability, and makes our mission a shared journey.

7. Compassion, Dignity, and Meaningfully Responding to Conflict: We are committed to leading with compassion and upholding the dignity of every individual we work with and work for. We share a commitment to listen effectively, to allow equal opportunity in shared spaces, to only assume best intentions and to understand that it is going to come out sideways and to allow for the imperfect. This commitment guides us to support one other and those we aim to serve with genuine understanding, and to advocate for change that honours every person’s right to adequate housing. We are committed to building thoughtful processes to respond to conflict with compassion and care, if it arises within the spaces we create and enter.

8. Equality and Inclusion: We are committed to embedding equality and inclusion at the center of everything we do, recognizing that true housing justice can only be achieved when we actively break down barriers and ensure that our efforts are inclusive of those who have been historically marginalized. This commitment also includes respecting cultural adequacy and avoiding cultural appropriation, ensuring that our work is informed by and reflective of the diverse cultural contexts and lived experiences of the communities we serve. This commitment drives us to create spaces where diversity is not just welcomed but is a vital driver of our mission.

9. Meaningful Participation: We are committed to cultivating meaningful participation, with a particular focus on amplifying the voices and insights of those who have been historically sidelined. Our aim is to create a space where the contributions of marginalized individuals and communities, especially those directly affected by homelessness and housing precarity, are pivotal to shaping our approach and actions. This commitment ensures that our work is informed by a multitude of perspectives, strengthening our collective efforts to securing housing rights for everyone.

10. Willingness to Learn: We are committed to fostering an environment of continuous learning, especially from the experiences and knowledge of marginalized individuals and communities and those most impacted by housing issues. We strive to root in our good intentions and assume good intentions from everyone, with an understanding that some conversations might be a bit uncomfortable, but if we address them with respect and kindness, we can work through them. This commitment to growth ensures our actions are informed, impactful, and resonate with the genuine needs and aspirations of the people and communities we aim to serve.