Federation to host regional housing forum in Gatineau amid ongoing crisis

Tashi Farmilo

The Fédération des OSBL d'habitation de l'Outaouais (FOHO) will hold a regional forum on community housing on September 23 at the Maison du citoyen in Gatineau, bringing together elected officials, government representatives, municipal staff, community organizations, housing managers, researchers, institutional partners and funders to address the region's deepening housing crisis.

The event, themed "From crisis to action: rethinking social housing for tomorrow," comes as the housing shortage continues to strain communities and widen social inequalities across the region. FOHO says the day is meant to move beyond simply acknowledging the crisis and instead open a space for dialogue focused on concrete solutions.

Participants will be asked to work together on ways to expand the supply of community housing, support existing organizations, foster inclusive living environments and identify practical steps to meet growing needs among vulnerable populations. The program will include a keynote address, participatory workshops, expert panel discussions and a closing session meant to produce recommendations to guide the future work of Outaouais housing partners.

"The challenges we face demand more than observations. They call for collective mobilization, strong partnerships and innovative solutions," said Armelle Grey Tohouegnon, FOHO's executive director, adding that the forum is meant to turn shared concerns into concrete action toward building the social housing of tomorrow.

By encouraging dialogue among the sector's various players, FOHO hopes the forum will strengthen regional coordination and help build a shared vision for social housing that is more accessible, more sustainable and better centred on the needs of individuals and communities. The federation is inviting all interested partners, organizations and residents to take part in what it describes as a catalyst for solutions on the future of community housing in the Outaouais.

FOHO, founded in 1998, represents non-profit housing organizations across the region and works to support their development and long-term viability. It currently counts dozens of member organizations working to help vulnerable populations in the Outaouais gain access to stable housing and a better quality of life.

More information, including registration details, is available on FOHO's website: https://la-foho.ca/forum-regional-en-habitation-communautaire-de-loutaouais/