Current Research
Ph.D.Geography, University of Toronto
The Right to Room: Licensing the Viability of Affordable Housing in Canada
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Lisa Freeman
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2008 Trudeau Scholar
lisa.freeman@trudeaufoundation.net
Profile
Lisa Freeman is passionate about local struggles for social justice.
Her blend of activism and academics is focused on efforts to build alternative definitions of community and justice, a task which has involved her in frontline case work, anti-poverty activism, and most critically, strategies to expand the stock of affordable housing in Canadian cities.
Lisa's Ph.D. research examines the impact of municipal licensing on the quality and availability of rooming houses, an overlooked factor in the pursuit for affordable housing. Although rooming houses have been historically concentrated in downtown neighbourhoods, Lisa's research explores the viability of rooming houses for new immigrants in the suburbs. Divergent licensing practices between city centres and inner suburbs have become a pressing problem for establishing housing security across Toronto and in many Canadian cities. While intended to create safe housing, this form of urban regulation may actually limit the housing options in Toronto.
Dedicated to building community in all aspects of her life, Lisa is actively involved in graduate student organizing and fostering dialogue across academic disciplines. Lisa is a student in the Department of Geography and holds a junior fellowship at the Centre of Criminology, and in March 2008 was a visiting scholar at the Centre for Law, Gender and Sexuality at Kent Law School, Canterbury, UK.
Current Residence
Toronto, OntarioLanguages
English, working knowledge of FrenchDegrees
- MA Legal studies, Carleton University
- BA (HONS) Law, Carleton University
- BA. Psychology & Law, Carleton University
Current Research
The Right to Room: Licensing the Viability of Affordable Housing in Canada
The right to affordable housing is a crucial cornerstone for equality struggles amongst Canada's most marginalized populations. Increases in the number of shelter beds and social housing are often seen as the ultimate solution to the crisis of homelessness. Lisa's research will focus on rooming houses and their role for diverse vulnerable populations as an alternative solution: a space for social inclusion, justice and the right to housing in Canada.
Past Research
- The Legal Geography of Urban Squatting: Ottawa's Gilmour Street Squatters
- Women, Risk and Drug Treatment Court in Canada
- The Pains of Privatization: How Contracting Out Hurts Health Support Workers (Canadian Centre for Policy options / Cupe National)
Awards
- Junior Fellowship, Centre of Criminology, University of Toronto
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- Royal Bank Graduate Fellowship in Public and Economic Policy
- Professional Development Fund Award, Canadian union of public employees, local 3908
- Terry Cottam Research Bursary, Ontario public interest research group, Carleton
Social Engagement
- Liaison Officer (elected member of executive) Canadian union of public employees, local 3902
- Vice-president academic, graduate geography and planning students' society
- Departmental Steward, Canadian Union of Public employees, Locals 3902 & 4600
- Legal advocate & popular educator, seven-year squat collective (Ottawa)
- Volunteer, Centre of Equality Rights in Accommodation
Work Experience
- Teaching assistant, department of geography, University of Toronto
- Teaching & research assistant, Carleton University
- Research intern, Canadian research institute for the advancement of women
- Program facilitator, special needs network (liveworkplay)
- Frontline caseworker, pioneer youth services
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