Catherine Bauer changed forever the concept of social housing and inspired a generation of urban activists to integrate public housing into the emerging welfare state of the mid-20th century. She was one of a small group of idealists who called themselves “Housers” because of their commitment to raising the quality of urban life through improving shelter for low-income families.

The first and most detailed history of Canadian social security from colonial times to the present, The Emergence of Social Security in Canada has become a standard text in social work and related courses in post-secondary institutions across Canada, since its publication in 1980.