Is housing a human right? Global advocate Leilani Farha to bring the conversation to UFV 

For university students in the Fraser Valley and across Canada who face rising housing costs, the prospect of owning a home may feel increasingly out of reach. Even finding an affordable place to rent can be difficult. 

But what if housing was a fundamental human right rather than a financial investment? 

Leilani Farha, an internationally recognized housing advocate and 2026 CBC Massey Lecturer, will explore that question during a panel discussion at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Abbotsford campus on Wednesday, Oct. 21. 

The conversation takes place from noon to 2 pm in Room B101 (lecture theatre). 

Farha is a Canadian human rights lawyer and former United Nations special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, appointed to investigate housing-related human rights issues around the world. 

She is also the global director of The Shift, an international organization that explores housing, finance, and climate through a human rights lens. Her work examines how investment practices, government policies, and economic inequality affect access to safe, secure, and affordable housing. 

In Housing Inc., the book accompanying her 2026 CBC Massey Lectures, Farha introduces readers to people experiencing housing insecurity around the world. She meets someone living in a four-door sedan in San Diego, visits a makeshift shelter beside railway tracks in Lagos, a windowless motel room in Paris, and a tent on a Toronto beach. Despite their different circumstances, they share a common desire to be treated with dignity. 

Her book is available for purchase at the UFV Bookstore and will be available at the event for $20. 

Farha will be joined by three UFV alumni whose professional experience and research offer thought-provoking perspectives on what housing looks like here in the Fraser Valley, and how it may look in the future. 

Jesse Wegenast (BA ’12) is executive director of Sparrow Community Care Society in Abbotsford. Jesse, who received UFV’s Young Distinguished Alumni award in 2019, leads shelter programs and community initiatives supporting people experiencing homelessness, particularly older adults. He offers a frontline perspective on housing insecurity and the challenges facing vulnerable community members. 

Lesandra Simpson (BSW ’23) is a registered social worker with Fraser Health whose work connects health and housing. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the discussion, offering insight into the relationship between stable housing and well-being. 

Mayu Ochi (BA ’25) graduated with distinction in economics and has delved into the factors contributing to Japan’s growing number of vacant homes. Her study, which earned her a UFV Undergraduate Research Award, explored how demographic, economic, and regional differences influence housing vacancies, offering an international perspective on the complexities of housing supply. 

The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Mark Kersten, an assistant professor in UFV’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. 

The event is free and open to the UFV community, but seating is limited. Register online.