Houses for All is the story of the struggle for social housingin Vancouver between 1919 and 1950. It argues that, however temporaryor limited their achievements, local activists pplayed a significantrole in the introduction, implementation, or continuation of many earlynational housing programs. Ottawa's housing initiatives were notalways unilateral actions in the development of the welfare state. Thedrive for social housing in Vancouver complemented the tradition ofhousing activism that already existed in the United Kingdom and, to alesser degree, in the United States.

Written by some of Canada's top researchers in the field, the articles in this collection introduce a new chapter in feminist literature, focusing on women and their experiences in Canadian urban settings and illustrating the importance of gender in the development of urban areas. While the articles represent diverse approaches and methodologies, they all point out that the specific needs of women are not being met and that women must create opportunities for democratic participation in the institutions that affect their lives.

Helena Gutteridge was born in England in 1879. A militant suffragist, tutored by the Pankhursts, she learned the politics of confrontation early. Emigrating to Vancouver in 1911, she found the suffrage movement there too polite and organized the B.C. Woman's Suffrage League to help working women fight for the vote. And she kept on organizing. As a journeyman tailor she was a power in her union local, and as the only woman on the Vancouver Trades and Labor Council -- their 'rebel girl' -- she championed the rights of workers and organized women to fight for themselves. In the 1930s, as a member of the feisty new political movement, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, she joined in the struggles of the unemployed for work and wages. Then, in 1937, as the first woman ever elected to Vancouver City Council, she led the fight for low-income housing. Irene Howard made it her task, over a period of years, to search out and assemble details of Helena's life and career, and to interview old comrades who knew Helena and the turbulent times in which she lived. Herself a miner's daughter, the author brings to her subject an affectionate regard and sympathy qualified by the larger view of the scholar and researcher. The result is a lively biography, shot through with humour and pathos, that pays homage to Helena Gutteridge and to many of the people who have been inspired by a cause and who have taught us about the politics of caring.

The recent global crisis exposed vulnerabilities of housing markets pointing to the need to build resilience through better policy tools and sustainable provision of social housing. In the context of fiscal austerity, social housing is affected by changing politics, privatization and concentration of urban poverty. Transforming Social Housing: International Perspectives explores the differences and similarities in housing policies and practices by focusing on social housing institutions and their ability to influence affordability and quality of housing. The focus is on private and not-for-profit provision in mixed-income developments supported through partnerships and a mix of policy instruments. The book brings together contributions by leading scholars on key debates affecting social housing in cities around the world. The international perspectives provide an interdisciplinary, robust overview of complex processes of change affecting people, places and homes. It is particularly well suited for students, scholars, policymakers and professionals interested in housing, urban planning and public policy. The chapters in this book were originally published in various issues of the Urban Research & Practice journal.