Leilani Farha: First recipient of the Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award

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Champlain Park resident awarded for advocacy

Leilani Farha is tired of women being ignored when it comes to access to housing. She believes that Canada – and the world – needs to do better.

Now the Champlain Park resident is being honoured for her efforts in the first annual Spirit of Barbra Schlifer Award.

The award is in memory of a young Toronto lawyer who was raped and murdered in 1980, and given out by the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic – which gives legal help and counseling to women who are victims of violence.

“There are a lot of incredible advocates out there doing incredible work. I’m just one of many,” said Farha, from her Canada Without Poverty office.

The executive director of the organization has worked for two decades advocating that women, who are victims of violence, have the right to adequate housing.

Housing issues were always on her mind when she was young, Farha said, especially in her university years. She had the opportunity to work with homeless youth, and quickly realized how important housing is.

“Housing is such a cornerstone to health, employment  . . . a sense of security,” she said, adding that she also noticed women were being kept out of the dialogue. “Regardless of the society you live in, the bottom line is women tend to spent more time in the home. And it struck me as odd – human rights is about putting disadvantaged people at the centre of the core, and that wasn’t happening.”

Farha said her neighbourhood is on her mind often while she’s at work, especially when it comes to affordability of homes.

“I think higher density living is cool, but who can afford it?” she said. “It does have an impact on me, and I think of these things all the time.”

She added that while property prices are going up, she enjoys the Champlain Park community – especially with her two children.

“As the kids are getting older, they’re getting their independence through the park,” Farha said. “I use the Ottawa River Parkway to go running, and I really enjoy it. I feel we’re part of the community – but I have yet to go to the mosque.”

In addition to enjoying all that Champlain Park has to offer a family, Farha said she encourages those in her community – and in every community – to engage in social issues.

Having a respectful debate makes for a more vibrant democracy, she said, and will help make this country a better place.

“I’ve been told by people who visit Canada, that they find we as a population don’t have a rigorous debate about the social, political and legal issues of the day,” Farha said. “It’s part of our politeness, and I think we need to get over that.”

She added that Canada has the money and resources to do better, and get people off the street – especially women who are victims of violence.

“We have 250,000 people living in shelters and the streets in this country, but we’re not doing as well as we could be doing,” Farha said.