The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association
Introduction
The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) serves as the definitive national voice for social, affordable, and non-profit housing providers across the country. Representing a sector that shelters hundreds of thousands of individuals, the CHRA released its "Blueprint for Housing" to address a critical reality: existing policies are failing to ensure every resident has a home that meets their needs.
As housing supply continues to lag behind demand and the current stock faces rapid aging, the need for a new generation of creative, federal-led solutions has never been more urgent.
Understanding the Landscape of The Canadian Housing Sector
The current state of the Canadian housing landscape is defined by a significant "missing gap" in federal strategy, particularly regarding Indigenous populations. Despite the 2017 National Housing Strategy, outcomes for Indigenous peoples in urban, rural, and northern (URN) settings remain significantly poorer than those of non-Indigenous populations.
This disparity highlights a systemic failure that the CHRA aims to rectify through a "For Indigenous, By Indigenous" (FIBI) approach.
Beyond Indigenous-specific needs, the broader community housing sector is grappling with the expiry of long-term operating agreements. Federal withdrawal from the non-profit sector in the mid-1980s created a supply vacuum that modern programs have yet to fill.
Today, approximately 1.7 million Canadian households are in "core housing need," meaning they spend over 30% of their income on housing costs.
Implementing Reconciliation Through Indigenous Self-Determination
A primary pillar of the Blueprint is the implementation of a FIBI housing strategy. This vision centers on the principle of self-determination, as ratified in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The CHRA advocates for:
A Dedicated Governance Body: Creating a permanent organizational structure led by URN Indigenous representatives to oversee housing policy and programs.
Preserving Existing Stock: Allocating resources specifically for the renovation of aging Indigenous housing, which is estimated to require at least $725 million in repairs.
Evidence-Based Research: Providing the FIBI organization with the mandate to conduct building assessments and research into Indigenous homelessness.
Strategies for Expanding [The Canadian Housing] Supply
To meet the needs of the next generation, the Canadian housing sector must see an ambitious increase in development. The CHRA proposes doubling the proportion of community housing in Canada from its current 5% to at least 10% by 2035. Achieving this requires a multifaceted approach to land, funding, and capacity.
Land Acquisition and Property Conversion
Land is one of the highest cost barriers in development. The CHRA recommends a permanent federal Land Acquisition Program to transfer serviceable land to non-profit providers at no cost. Additionally, the temporary Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) should be made permanent to allow providers to acquire and convert both residential and non-residential buildings into affordable units.
Professionalizing the Workforce
Expanding supply requires more than just capital; it requires a skilled workforce. The Blueprint suggests making skills development and human resource capacity eligible expenses in federal programs. By scaling up training opportunities, such as those provided by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Canada, the sector can better manage complex, large-scale development projects.
Maintaining Affordability and Repairing Existing Stock
The preservation of existing Canadian housing units is as vital as building new ones. Approximately 90% of the current 600,000 community housing units were built before 2001, and many are now in poor condition or energy inefficient.
Simplifying Renewal Funding
Current application processes for repair funds, such as the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, are often too complex for small providers. The CHRA calls for a "one-stop-shop" approach—modeled after pilot programs in Calgary—to align federal, provincial, and municipal application requirements.
Permanent Rental Subsidies
There is a growing concern that federal rental subsidies will vanish after 2028. The CHRA argues that the federal government must adopt a permanent role in providing these subsidies to ensure housing remains affordable for those in greatest need. Without a predictable, long-term framework, hundreds of thousands of units remain at risk of losing their affordability status.
A "Team Canada" Approach to Policy Integration
No single level of government can solve the crisis alone; the Canadian housing success depends on a unified "Team Canada" approach. This includes:
Incentivizing the Private Sector: Creating a Canadianized Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to draw private investment into non-profit managed projects.
Curbing Financialization: Collaborating with provinces to regulate Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which often purchase affordable stock to convert it into high-end market rentals.
Infrastructure Ties: Adding "housing clauses" to federal infrastructure agreements, requiring provinces to address housing density and supply as a condition of receiving funds.
Countering NIMBYism: Launching a federal public relations campaign to promote the value of community housing and combat local opposition to new projects.
Conclusion
The CHRA’s Blueprint for Housing serves as a vital roadmap for the future of the Canadian housing policy. By prioritizing Indigenous self-determination, doubling community housing stock, and entrenching permanent rental subsidies, Canada can move toward a reality where safe and affordable housing is a guaranteed right rather than a privilege.
The document’s emphasis on a collaborative, "Team Canada" approach ensures that these recommendations remain a foundational resource for researchers and policymakers dedicated to ending homelessness and strengthening the Canadian housing for all.
Also read: Build Canada Homes 2025. Housing Design and Technical Guidelines