Aaron, a trans man and activist, has dedicated his life’s work to finding solutions to the homelessness crisis in Vancouver. Inspired by the Housing First movement, he advocates for people to have condition-free access to housing as a basic human right.
Aaron believes people should be able to choose housing that works for them, and to have individualized supports tailored to their unique needs.
He is acutely aware of the increased barriers to housing faced by queer, trans, and Two-Spirit communities. Our community members routinely face discrimination in places like employment, mental health services, and treatment centers, increasing the odds that we could find ourselves living on the streets. On the streets and in shelters, our community members also face an increased risk of violence. In response to this, Aaron secured the funds to create a house for homeless queer and trans youth. The project, which launched in 2015, is the first of it’s kind in Canada. Aaron says he is inspired by the strong and resilient community members he gets to work alongside every day. He offers up the youth house as an example of how Housing First principles really do help people feel more empowered in their lives and better able to navigate a world where injustice is all too common.
