{"id":3334,"date":"2026-04-24T16:11:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/?p=3334"},"modified":"2026-04-24T16:11:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T20:11:01","slug":"cspsc-housing-affordability-symposium-highlights-urgent-need-for-coordinated-action-on-housing-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/2026\/cspsc-housing-affordability-symposium-highlights-urgent-need-for-coordinated-action-on-housing-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"CSPSC Housing Affordability Symposium Highlights Urgent Need for Coordinated Action on Housing Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n CSPSC Housing Affordability Symposium Highlights Urgent Need for Coordinated Action on Housing Crisis\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

On March 24, 2026, the Centre for Studies on Poverty and Social Citizenship (CSPSC) at Carleton University convened community leaders, researchers, policymakers, service providers, and students for a timely and solutions-focused Housing Affordability Symposium. The program featured three thematic panels, a keynote address, and a collective recommendations session designed to move from dialogue to action. The event was hosted by Master of Ceremonies Allison Everett, Associate Professor in the School of Social Work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panel 1: Housing Affordability Crisis, Data and Policies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting the foundation for the day, Panel 1 examined the structural forces driving housing unaffordability across Canada and within Ottawa. Moderated by Dr. Pamela Grassau, the panel featured presentations by Andrew Crosby (Carleton University, Geography & Environmental Studies) and Sajidul Quayum (Policy Analyst, Homelessness Policy Directorate) examined long-term trends, including rising housing costs, the loss of affordable rental units, and the increasing financialization of housing. They highlighted the growing mismatch between housing costs and incomes, noting that about one-third of renter households spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, with many exceeding 50 percent, alongside a loss of affordable rental units and rising shelter costs. The speakers traced these trends to policy shifts in the 1980s and 1990s, when reduced governmental involvement in housing increased reliance on market-based solutions, and emphasized the financialization of housing, where properties are treated as investment assets by real estate investment trusts and large asset management firms, contributing to rising rents, evictions, and declining affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Andrew
Panellist Andrew Crosby and Sajidul Quayum <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The panel also addressed the scale and complexity of homelessness in Canada, noting that over 67,000 people experience homelessness on a given night, with longer shelter stays and rising chronic homelessness reflecting deeper structural challenges. Indigenous peoples, Black Canadians, newcomers, and individuals with child welfare system involvement are disproportionately affected, while gaps in data and coordination limit effective policy responses. Overall, the panel underscored that the housing crisis is not only a supply issue, but the result of long-term policy decisions that have reduced access to affordable housing and weakened protections for vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panel 2: Lived Experience and Community Solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moderated by Dr. Katherine Occhiuto, Panel 2 brought together frontline leaders and community voices, including Rob Boyd (Ottawa Inner City Health), Sahada Alolo (Multifaith Housing Initiative), John Heckbert (Operation Come Home), and Lucky Dykstra-Santos (Carleton University).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This panel emphasized that addressing homelessness requires sustained investment in non-market housing and the organizations that provide it. Speakers highlighted the critical role of non-profit and community-based housing providers in delivering stable, affordable housing options and stressed the need to better resource these organizations to scale their impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rob
Panellists Sahada Alolo, Rob Boyd and Lucky Dykstra-Santos (L-R)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A key takeaway from this discussion was the importance of wraparound supports for individuals and families facing homelessness. Panellists underscored that housing alone is not sufficient, particularly for those experiencing complex challenges. Integrated supports, including healthcare, mental health services, income supports, and community connections, are essential to ensuring long-term housing stability. The panel also emphasized that effective solutions must be grounded in lived experience, support autonomy, and be designed with a focus on dignity, equity, and inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panel 3: Pathways Forward, Policies and Partnerships<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, Panel 3 turned to what meaningful progress could look like and how it might be achieved through coordinated action. Moderated by CSPSC Chair, Dr. Tsitsi Mpofu-Mketwa, the panel featured Jacqueline Kennelly (Director, A Safe and Affordable Place to Call Home), Sara Cooper (Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa), and Michele Biss (National Right to Housing Network). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Dr.
CSPSC Chair Dr. Tsitsi Mpofu-Mketwa introducing panellists.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This discussion emphasized the importance of cross-sector partnerships in scaling solutions, from expanding non-market housing to advancing affordable homeownership models. Panellists also highlighted the need to align housing policy with a human rights framework, recognizing housing as essential to dignity and well-being. Together, the panel outlined a pathway forward grounded in collaboration, policy innovation, and long-term investment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presentations showcased the impact of organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa, emphasizing how affordable homeownership improves health, educational outcomes, and economic stability, while generating strong social returns on investment. Speakers outlined strategies to scale these efforts through partnerships across municipalities, non-profits, and private developers, including land donations, reduced development fees, and streamlined approvals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Michele
Michele Biss emphasizes housing as a fundamental human right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The panels also advanced a human rights-based approach to housing, grounded in Canada\u2019s National Housing Strategy Act, which frames housing as a fundamental right and calls for coordinated policy action, stronger protections, and accountability to ensure access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing for all. The right to adequate housing is not just about housing programs but also about legal protections of housing rights, tax measures, planning, and regulation of investors. Presenters argued that addressing the housing crisis requires not only new housing supply, but also stronger legal protections, regulatory measures, and accountability mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Insight to Action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Attendees
Participants discussing housing affordability priorities<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The symposium concluded with a \u201cCollective Insights and Recommendations\u201d session, moderated by Allison Everett, where participants engaged in facilitated discussions to identify actionable priorities for the next 12 to 24 months. These insights will inform a forthcoming CSPSC report and future initiatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day also featured a keynote address by Kaite Burkholder Harris, Executive Director of the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, who reinforced a central message echoed throughout the symposium: addressing homelessness requires a shift toward housing-first, prevention-focused, and systems-level solutions. A key focus of her presentation was the need to scale non-market housing. Burkholder Harris highlighted the growing gap between what households can afford and current market rents, noting that non-profit housing provides long-term affordability and becomes more cost-effective over time. Expanding this type of housing will require coordinated action across zoning, financing, land use, and partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kaite
Kaite Burkholder Harris delivering the keynote address<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

She further emphasized the importance of designing systems that are flexible, coordinated, and responsive to people\u2019s needs. This includes improving communication across agencies, aligning assessments, and ensuring that individuals are connected to both housing and the supports necessary for long-term stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving Forward: Housing Solutions for Ottawa<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across all presentations and discussions, a clear message emerged: the housing affordability crisis is rooted in structural and systemic factors that require coordinated, multi-level responses. Addressing the crisis will require a shift away from treating housing primarily as a market commodity toward recognizing it as a fundamental human right. The symposium emphasized the need to integrate data, policy reform, community-based solutions, and lived experience to build a more equitable and sustainable housing system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CSPSC Housing Affordability Symposium underscored that while the crisis is complex, it is solvable through coordinated, evidence-based, and community-informed approaches. Expanding non-market housing, strengthening community supports, and advancing policy reform were identified as key priorities. CSPSC extends its sincere thanks to all speakers, partners, and participants for contributing to a thoughtful and impactful event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos from the event can be viewed here<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On March 24, 2026, the Centre for Studies on Poverty and Social Citizenship (CSPSC) at Carleton University convened community leaders, researchers, policymakers, service providers, and students for a timely and solutions-focused Housing Affordability Symposium. The program featured three thematic panels, a keynote address, and a collective recommendations session designed to move from dialogue to action. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":463,"featured_media":3338,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[26,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","category-news"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/463"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3334"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3349,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3334\/revisions\/3349"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cspsc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}