Each year on National Housing Day, Canadian municipalities and increasing numbers of Canadians unite to send a strong message to the federal government: Canada needs a national housing program that will end homelessness in one of the wealthiest countries in the Western Hemisphere.

They also want their message to give hope to those who are homeless or faced with this prospect while sounding a ‘call to action’ to other Canadians.

Members of Toronto’s Advisory Committee on Homeless & Socially Isolated Persons -- and their counterparts across Canada -- busily prepare for National Housing Day -- November 22. This day is hosted by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the National Housing and Homelessness Network and the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee. The date was chosen as it marks the anniversary of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Big City Mayor’s declaration of homelessness as a national disaster.

From Halifax to Vancouver, rallies and events bring concerned individuals and organizations together to raise loud voices in a call for federal action on a National Housing Strategy. With a federal election on the horizon, many organizers and supporters are counting on vote-conscious federal politicians becoming increasingly receptive to public demands for affordable housing.

Did you know about National Housing Day? Are you aware of national grassroots activities that call for a fully-funded national housing program? Answer ‘no’ to one or both of these questions and you’ll see where the problem lies. Until housing is an individual concern, housing will not gain recognition as a national concern.

Until well-housed Canadians become as concerned about the quality and quantity of housing available across this country as they are about their own home, many feel little will change. Until Canadians realize that community security and economic development are enhanced by a well-housed population, the standard of housing in Canada will continue to spiral downward.

What comfortable Canadians may not realize is that since the main thrust of real estate and housing development concentrates on the wealthy and fairly well-off, there is little choice for middle-class and lower- income individuals and families in communities across the country. Since we are still building temporary housing – housing that must be moved out of if your lifestyle or income changes – individuals and families in all economic groups who want security of tenure may find themselves without choice if their present home becomes unsuitable.

Yes, we need a national housing strategy to provide safe, comfortable housing, but we also need a national initiative to ensure Canadians have the wide variety of housing and financial options necessary to ensure our communities are sustainable.

Last year, the mayors of Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, North Bay, Parry Sound, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax were among many others across the country to issue official proclamations backing National Housing Day. These are just a few of the community events planned for this year:

Published: November 12, 2002

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Futurist and Strategist PJ Wade is "The Catalyst" - intent on "Challenging The Best to Become Even Better." PJ earned this title by translating the dynamic impact of Boomers and their multi-generation families into relevant insights that start people thinking and taking action—in business and in life. Author of 8 books and more than 1800 published articles, PJ encourages individuals to become their own futurist. PJ writes and speaks about the insight, knowledge and solid decision-making skills that professionals and their clients need to live and work in this vortex of change. For instance, since PJ knows that home is headquarters for the new decades-long "unretirement," she wrote the popular book "Reverse Mortgages: Best Friend, Worst Enemy...Your Choice!", which is filled with suggestions and cautions on protecting, building and managing home equity. Her new business book, "What's Your Point?: Cut The Crap, Hit The Mark & Stick!" will be published in 2012. As The Catalyst, PJ provides strategic communication, client appreciation and advanced education services to the financial, tourism, lifestyle and service sectors - and the clients they serve. A frequently-quoted financial and business commentator, PJ is a thought-provoking strategic speaker who offers practical, real-life suggestions on leaving "the box" behind and embracing Forward Thinking - a talent she regularly demonstrates in this column. For more on keynotes, blogs, books and information on a range of 21st-Century topics, visit TheCatalyst.com.