Building Affordable Futures

Introduction

Canada is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis that threatens the basic human right to safe, secure, and affordable shelter. Across the country, housing costs are skyrocketing, far outpacing incomes and pushing even middle-class households to the brink. In major cities like Toronto and Vancouver, home ownership is becoming an impossible dream for all but the wealthiest, while renters are squeezed by soaring costs and scarce vacancies. In smaller communities and rural areas, aging housing stock, limited supply, and lack of supportive services leave many struggling to find suitable homes.

The statistics paint a dire picture:

- 1.7 million Canadian households are in "core housing need," spending more than 30% of their income on shelter that is unaffordable, overcrowded, or in disrepair.

- Among renters, nearly 1 in 5 are spending more than 50% of their income on housing, leaving little for other basic necessities.

- Average house prices have risen over 50% in the past five years, while incomes have stagnated, pushing homeownership out of reach for many.

- Over 35,000 Canadians experience homelessness on any given night, a number that has only grown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Behind these numbers are real human costs. When housing is unaffordable, people are forced to make impossible choices between paying rent and putting food on the table, between living in overcrowded or unsafe conditions and uprooting their lives. Housing instability is linked to poorer health outcomes, lower educational attainment, reduced productivity, and frayed social cohesion. It perpetuates cycles of poverty and erodes the resilience of our communities.

The drivers of this crisis are complex and interconnected. Decades of underinvestment in affordable housing, combined with population growth, demographic shifts, and the financialization of housing markets, have created a perfect storm. Restrictive zoning and regulatory barriers limit the supply of affordable homes, while speculative investment and the commodification of housing drive up costs. Stagnating incomes and rising inequality mean that even as housing prices soar, fewer households can keep up.

Tackling this crisis will require a fundamental rethinking of how we approach housing in Canada. It demands bold, collaborative action from all sectors - governments, private developers, non-profits, and communities - to address both the immediate needs and the systemic roots of unaffordability.

The good news is that solutions exist. From innovative financing models to progressive planning policies, from energy-efficient design to community land trusts, promising strategies are emerging to create and preserve affordable housing. Around the world, forward-thinking cities and countries are demonstrating that it is possible to build inclusive, sustainable communities where everyone has a decent home.

What's often missing is the political will, the public awareness, and the cross-sectoral coordination needed to implement these solutions at scale. That's where this book comes in.

Drawing on cutting-edge research, practitioner expertise, and community insights, this book provides a comprehensive roadmap for advancing affordable housing solutions in the Canadian context. We dive deep into the causes and consequences of the crisis, showcasing both the challenges and the opportunities for change.

 We explore the key roles and strategies for different sectors, from the policy levers available to governments, to the innovative potential of socially-purposed development, to the grassroots power of community-led initiatives. We highlight emerging tools and approaches, from modular construction to land value capture, that can help us build more and better affordable housing.

Importantly, we ground these strategies in real-world examples and case studies, drawing lessons from successful projects across Canada and globally. We hear directly from housing residents, advocates, and practitioners about what works, what doesn't, and what's needed to scale up impact.

 Throughout, we emphasize the importance of collaboration, equity, and sustainability as guiding principles for affordable housing solutions. We cannot simply build our way out of this crisis - we must also address the underlying systems and power imbalances that perpetuate housing precarity. We need solutions that work for people of all incomes, backgrounds, and abilities, and that contribute to the long-term health and resilience of our communities and our planet.

The affordable housing challenge is daunting, but it is not insurmountable. By learning from diverse perspectives, leveraging innovative strategies, and working together across silos, we can build a future where everyone in Canada has a safe, suitable, and affordable place to call home.

 This book is a call to action - for policymakers, housing professionals, advocates, and engaged citizens alike. Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of the crisis, discover promising solutions, or mobilize for change, the following chapters offer a wealth of insights and inspiration.

The time for action is now. Let's get to work building an affordable housing future for all.