Dive into the complexities of affordable housing in Canada with this episode, which unpacks the terminology, challenges, and policy debates shaping the nation’s housing landscape. Through expert interviews and data-driven discussion, listeners will gain a foundational understanding of what “affordable housing” really means, why definitions matter, and how different models and government roles impact the availability and accessibility of homes. This episode is ideal for anyone interested in public policy, urban planning, or the future of housing in Canada.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the various definitions of "affordable housing" and why clarity matters.
- Distinguish between market, non-market, community, and social housing.
- Explore the current landscape of housing supply in Canada and the mismatch with actual needs.
- Examine the critical role of federal involvement in addressing the housing crisis.
- Identify actionable policy recommendations for improving housing affordability and supply.
Key Discussion Points:
- The ambiguity of "affordable housing" and its implications for policy and public understanding.
- The evolution of terminology: from social housing to community and non-market housing.
- The motivations and business models behind market vs. non-market housing providers.
- Data on what types of homes are being built in Canada and who they serve.
- The importance of specifying targets for community/non-market housing within broader supply goals.
- The economic and social costs of inaction on affordable housing and homelessness.
- Recommendations for federal leadership, nonprofit engagement, and coordinated action.
Takeaways:
- "Affordable" is a relative term; policy must focus on affordability for those most in need.
- Non-market and community housing play a unique, essential role in long-term affordability.
- Federal leadership and targeted funding are crucial to reversing the decline in affordable housing stock.
- A healthy housing system requires a full range of options, not just more units.
Chapters:0:00:06 –
Introduction and Host Backgrounds 0:00:27 –
The Problem with "Affordable Housing": Definitions and Confusion 0:02:22 –
Ray Sullivan on Income-Based Affordability and Policy Implications 0:04:04 –
Political Platforms and the Use of "Affordable" in Canada 0:05:44 –
Market, Non-Market, Community, and Social Housing: Terminology and Evolution 0:08:12 –
Private vs. Nonprofit Motivations in Housing Development 0:11:09 –
Current Housing Supply: What’s Being Built and Who It Serves (Alex Flynn) 0:13:39 –
The Mismatch Between Housing Supply and Actual Need 0:15:42 –
The Role of Federal Government and the Shrinking Share of Non-Market Housing 0:18:52 –
Policy Recommendations: Targets, Funding, and Federal Leadership 0:20:14 –
The Importance of Nonprofit Providers and Federal Lands 0:22:28 –
Conclusion and Resources for Further Learning New Housing Alternatives is made possible with the support of the
New Housing Alternatives grant, led by Alan Walks and Susannah Bunce, based at the University of Toronto. Explore our
Vision & Objectives and
Research Clusters & Projects, and subscribe to our blog at the link below:
https://newhousingalternatives.ca/blog/
What is New Housing Alternatives?
What if the solutions to Canada’s housing crisis are already out there, just hidden in plain sight? New Housing Alternatives Podcast digs deeper to uncover what really works in solving the affordability issue.
Despite dominant narratives claiming our housing crisis can be solved by simply building more market-rate supply, nearly half of Canadian households can’t afford average rents today. The crisis is deeper than a numbers game; it’s about who we’re building for, who gets left out, and what kind of communities we want to live in.
Join hosts Ren Thomas and Cherise Burda as they explore real solutions to this once-in-a-generation housing crisis and cut through the noise on Canada’s housing affordability crisis to spotlight real solutions that already exist, and the people making them happen.
New Housing Alternatives is made possible with the support of a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Grant, a partnership that is co-directed by Alan Walks and Susannah Bunce and based at the University of Toronto.
In this series, we talk to the people doing the work: nonprofit and co-operative developers, community organizers, and researchers reimagining housing not as a commodity, but as a human right. These are the underdogs creating affordable homes against the odds, proving it’s possible to build housing for people, not profit.
You’ll hear from:
-Ground-breaking developers creating alternative models of co-ownership and co-ops
-Policy experts who challenge the supply-only narrative
-Economists and data experts unpack how affordability vanishes, and how to bring it back
-Community leaders who are preserving existing homes and building new ones in ways that centre dignity and access
Whether you're a policymaker, housing advocate, or simply someone trying to make rent, this podcast brings you stories and insights that show a different future is not only possible, it’s already being built.