Canada is committed to progressive realization of the human right to adequate housing. However, many low- and moderate-income households across Canada struggle to afford housing, especially in the private rental market. In this challenging context, community housing is more essential than ever. Community housing is owned and operated by non-profit organizations, governments and co-operatives. It includes social housing, in which rents are set at or below 30% of tenants’ incomes.

Currently, community housing accounts for 3.5% of all housing in Canada. There are widespread calls for community housing to be prioritized in Canada’s quest to build more homes more quickly. Many organizations are advocating for the country to double its stock of community housing, from 655,000 units to 1.3 million units, as quickly as possible. Community Housing Canada conducts research with and for the sector to ensure that the renewal and expansion of community housing is adequate, sustainable and effective in addressing the needs of Canadians, especially vulnerable households.

The goal of this partnership is to identify what is required to build a resilient and sustainable community housing sector in Canada. Drawing on the knowledge and capacity of the sector itself, we pursue five specific objectives:

• To investigate the barriers and opportunities to increasing community housing supply in Canada, focusing on ensuring new housing meets adequacy standards beyond just affordability
• To redefine and measure housing vulnerability in Canada using a capabilities framework, and to assess how community housing impacts tenant well-being
• To examine the benefits and drawbacks of energy innovations for community housing at the neighbourhood level
• To develop inclusive housing needs assessments and identify promising practices for social inclusion
• To understand the challenges and visions of community housing workers and activists, examining the sector’s current state and potential future