From June 8–18, Rooftops Canada welcomed Thulani Nkosi, a Senior Attorney from the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) of South Africa to Atlantic Canada and as part of the Women Spaces project. During this visit we exchanged ideas and explored solutions to one of the most pressing challenges facing communities around the world: ensuring everyone has access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing.
While Canada and South Africa face different housing realities, both countries are grappling with questions of affordability, inclusion, and how to build communities where everyone has a place to call home. The study visit created an opportunity to step outside local contexts and examine these challenges through a global lens.
The visit began in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where Nkosi joined Rooftops Canada staff and board president Jaclyn Johnston at the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada’s Annual Meeting. Surrounded by housing advocates, co-operative leaders, non-profit organizations, and private sector professionals, he participated in discussions about innovative housing models and approaches to building more sustainable communities.