Key Takeaways:
- Canada needs to adopt policies from other countries to address its growing housing crisis, including "city deal" models from the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Finland.
- The city deal model allows for flexible and collaborative approaches to housing development, tailored to local needs.
- Canada’s housing crisis has been exacerbated by the federal government’s decision to stop funding new public housing developments in the 1990s.
- The non-profit housing sector needs to be made more investable to deliver affordable housing options.
- The urgent need for affordable housing is a global issue, with 2.8 billion people living without adequate housing, land security, and basic water and sanitation.
Introduction to the Housing Crisis
Canada is facing a severe housing crisis, and experts say that the country needs to look beyond its borders to find solutions. According to Jim Dunn, a housing expert and director of the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative (CHEC), Canada can learn from "city deal" models that have been successful in other countries, such as the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Finland. These models involve collaborative and flexible approaches to housing development, tailored to local needs. Dunn believes that adopting these policies can help Canada rapidly develop more affordable housing options.
The City Deal Model
The city deal model varies from country to country, but it typically involves a combination of national funding and local collaboration. For example, the UK provides new nationally funded resources for locally chosen projects, while the Dutch government focuses on reallocating existing resources for a more collaborative, bottom-up approach. Dunn believes that this model can be effective in Canada, particularly in addressing the country’s housing crisis, which has been exacerbated by the federal government’s decision to stop funding new public housing developments in the 1990s. The city deal model would allow different communities to develop frameworks tailored to local needs, making it a more flexible and effective approach.
The Need for Affordable Housing
The need for affordable housing is not unique to Canada, but it is a pressing issue globally. According to the United Nations, 2.8 billion people around the world are living without adequate housing, land security, and basic water and sanitation. This number is expected to increase as cities continue to grow, with the UN estimating that almost half of humanity will live in urban centers by 2050. In Canada, the housing crisis is particularly severe, with many people struggling to find affordable housing options. Dunn believes that the non-profit housing sector needs to be made more investable to deliver affordable housing options, and that there are good investment opportunities that can deliver a modest return while also having a social impact.
Hamilton as a Living Lab
Dunn has been working with the city of Hamilton, where McMaster University is located, to develop innovative solutions to the housing crisis. He has been involved in the creation of a roadmap for the city’s affordable housing strategy and has worked with local organizations to develop new housing projects. One example is the Hamilton Is Home initiative, which brings non-profits together to work in coordination with one another to develop new housing projects. This model is unique in Canada and has made Hamilton a leader in innovative housing solutions. Dunn believes that this approach can be replicated in other cities, and that universities can play a key role in working with municipalities to develop effective housing strategies.
Housing Solutions for an Aging Population
Dunn’s research has also focused on how older adults are navigating the housing crisis. He has worked with graduate students, such as Zoé El Helou, who is researching how financing and public policy can support older adults moving from car-dependent suburbs to age-friendly housing while maintaining community connections. El Helou’s research has highlighted the need for more supportive housing options for older adults, particularly those with complex needs. Dunn believes that models from other countries, such as the 71-unit inclusive apartment complex in Surrey, British Columbia, can provide valuable lessons for developing similar initiatives in Ontario.
Conclusion and Future Directions
Dunn’s work at McMaster University is focused on establishing the institution as a leader in housing research. He believes that the university has an opportunity to make a significant impact on the housing crisis, and that the new Master of Public Policy in Housing Policy program will help train the next generation of housing leaders in Canada. The program, which was launched in May 2025, aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop effective housing policies and solutions. Dunn is optimistic about the future of housing research at McMaster and believes that the university can play a key role in addressing the housing crisis in Canada and beyond.
