400 - Affordable housing vs. housing affordability: Have we lost focus?

September 23, 2020

12:30PM - 1:30PM

The National Housing Strategy was released by the Federal Government in 2017, setting an objective that by 2030, every Canadian will have “a place to call home” — be adequately and affordably housed. However, the launch of its programs and related criteria set out by CMHC has demonstrated that the feasibility of developing truly affordable housing — housing that will be affordable to the lower-middle class, working poor, and people requiring assistance and supports — is no longer there. Rather, the focus seems to be placed squarely on facilitating the development of purpose-built rentals and “attainable” housing for working families.
 
How might we shift the focus so the whole of the housing spectrum is successfully served with sufficient supply? How might we innovate CMHC’s funding programs to make the development of both deeply affordable housing and a healthy housing mix attainable?
 
In this interactive session, we hope to discuss how Bill 108, the National Housing Strategy, and various municipal programs and policies might contribute to supporting the development of affordable housing, while maintaining a healthy market rental and ownership housing stock.
 

Speakers