Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis

Reza Farkhondehpay

doi:doi:10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11

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Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis

Reza Farkhondehpay^*

Published in Urban and Regional Planning (Volume 9, Issue 3)

Received: 13 June 2024 Accepted: 2 July 2024 Published: 15 July 2024

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Abstract

The affordable housing crisis in Canada has reached a critical juncture, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities across the nation. As property prices soar and income levels fail to keep pace, an increasing number of Canadians find themselves struggling to secure suitable housing. This opinion article argues that addressing the affordable housing crisis requires a comprehensive approach that involves the collaborative efforts of governments, architects, and builders. The article examines the multifaceted nature of the affordable housing crisis, highlighting its impact on various socioeconomic groups and the challenges faced in finding solutions. It emphasizes the importance of affordable housing in fostering economic stability, promoting health and well-being, bolstering educational outcomes, and nurturing social cohesion and community development. The government's role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is discussed, focusing on the burden of government fees and taxes, zoning and regulatory compliance, and proposals to mitigate their impact. The article advocates for reforming fees, implementing policy alterations, and adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to create a more conducive environment for affordable housing development. The architects' role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is explored, highlighting the potential of architectural design competitions in promoting innovation, community engagement, and recognizing excellence in affordable housing design. The article emphasizes the importance of architectural innovation and creativity in envisioning and designing sustainable, community-centric housing solutions that cater to residents' psychological and social needs. The role of builders and developers in addressing the housing affordability crisis is also examined, with a focus on integrating sustainability for cost reduction, adopting new construction methods and materials, forming public-private partnerships for sustainable housing projects, and investing in education and training for sustainable practices. The article concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for a collective commitment to action, demanding bold leadership, creative thinking, and unwavering determination to build a future where every Canadian has access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. It underscores the importance of a holistic approach that addresses the direct and indirect factors contributing to the housing affordability crisis, ultimately cultivating a more equitable and sustainable housing market that benefits current and future homeowners while bolstering the overall economic and social well-being of the nation.

Published in	Urban and Regional Planning (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11
Page(s)	58-70
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Affordable Housing, Policy Deficiencies, Health and Well-Being, Sustainable Solutions, Public-Private Partnerships, Community Development, Architectural Innovation, Housing Costs

References

[1]	Macdonald, D. (2021). Unaccommodating: Rental Housing Wage in Canada. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. https://www.policyalternatives.ca/unaccommodating
[2]	National Low Income Housing Coalition. (2021). Out of Reach 2021: The High Cost of Housing. https://nlihc.org/oor
[3]	City of Toronto. (2021). HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan. https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/community-partners/affordable-housing-partners/housingto-2020-2030-action-plan/
[4]	Harkness, J. M., & Newman, S. J. (2003). Effects of homeownership on children: The role of neighborhood characteristics and family income. Economic Policy Review, 9(2), 87-107. https://www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/media/research/epr/03v09n2/0306hark.pdf
[5]	BBC. (2019, September 12). How Vienna fixed its housing crisis. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49723218
[6]	Canadian Mental Health Association. (2019). Affordable Housing. https://cmha.ca/brochure/affordable-housing/
[7]	Waterston, S., Grueger, B., & Samson, L. (2015). Housing need in Canada: Healthy lives start at home. Paediatrics & Child Health, 20(7), 403-407. https://doi.org/10.1093/pch/20.7.403
[8]	OECD. (2021). Housing and Inclusive Growth. https://www.oecd.org/housing/housing-and-inclusive-growth/
[9]	Walks, A. (2014). From Financialization to Sociospatial Polarization of the City? Evidence from Canada. Economic Geography, 90(1), 33-66. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecge.12024
[10]	Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2022). Housing Market Information Portal. https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/hmip-pimh/en/TableMapChart/
[11]	NerdWallet. (2022). What Is Property Tax? https://www.nerdwallet.com/ca/mortgages/what-is-property-tax
[12]	Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2022). Government charges on new housing drive up costs. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/blog/2022/government-charges-new-housing-drive-costs
[13]	The Tyee, & Infrastructure Canada. (n.d.). Impact of Development Charges on Housing Costs. https://thetyee.ca/
[14]	Infrastructure Canada. (n.d.). Importance of Development Charges: Submission regarding "Increasing Housing Supply in Ontario." https://www.amo.on.ca/sites/default/files/assets/DOCUMENTS/Reports/2019/ImportanceofDevelopmentChargesSubmissionreIncreasingHousingSupplyinOntario20190131.pdf
[15]	Canada Green Building Council. (2022). Resources & Education. https://www.cagbc.org/resources_education/index.php
[16]	National Institute of Building Sciences. (2022). Building Information Modeling (BIM). https://www.nibs.org/
[17]	Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2022). Affordable Housing Innovation Fund. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/professionals/project-funding-and-mortgage-financing/funding-programs/all-funding-programs/affordable-housing-innovation-fund
[18]	Government of Canada. (2022). National Housing Strategy. https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/housing-logement/housing-plan-report-rapport-plan-logement-eng.html#plan-1a
[19]	Sustainable Building Council. (2022). Courses. https://www.sbcourses.com/

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APA Style

Farkhondehpay, R. (2024). Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis. Urban and Regional Planning, 9(3), 58-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11

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ACS Style

Farkhondehpay, R. Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis. Urban Reg. Plan. 2024, 9(3), 58-70. doi: 10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11

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AMA Style

Farkhondehpay R. Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis. Urban Reg Plan. 2024;9(3):58-70. doi: 10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11

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@article{10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11,
  author = {Reza Farkhondehpay},
  title = {Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis
},
  journal = {Urban and Regional Planning},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {58-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.urp.20240903.11},
  abstract = {The affordable housing crisis in Canada has reached a critical juncture, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities across the nation. As property prices soar and income levels fail to keep pace, an increasing number of Canadians find themselves struggling to secure suitable housing. This opinion article argues that addressing the affordable housing crisis requires a comprehensive approach that involves the collaborative efforts of governments, architects, and builders. The article examines the multifaceted nature of the affordable housing crisis, highlighting its impact on various socioeconomic groups and the challenges faced in finding solutions. It emphasizes the importance of affordable housing in fostering economic stability, promoting health and well-being, bolstering educational outcomes, and nurturing social cohesion and community development. The government's role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is discussed, focusing on the burden of government fees and taxes, zoning and regulatory compliance, and proposals to mitigate their impact. The article advocates for reforming fees, implementing policy alterations, and adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to create a more conducive environment for affordable housing development. The architects' role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is explored, highlighting the potential of architectural design competitions in promoting innovation, community engagement, and recognizing excellence in affordable housing design. The article emphasizes the importance of architectural innovation and creativity in envisioning and designing sustainable, community-centric housing solutions that cater to residents' psychological and social needs. The role of builders and developers in addressing the housing affordability crisis is also examined, with a focus on integrating sustainability for cost reduction, adopting new construction methods and materials, forming public-private partnerships for sustainable housing projects, and investing in education and training for sustainable practices. The article concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for a collective commitment to action, demanding bold leadership, creative thinking, and unwavering determination to build a future where every Canadian has access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. It underscores the importance of a holistic approach that addresses the direct and indirect factors contributing to the housing affordability crisis, ultimately cultivating a more equitable and sustainable housing market that benefits current and future homeowners while bolstering the overall economic and social well-being of the nation.
},
 year = {2024}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis

AU  - Reza Farkhondehpay
Y1  - 2024/07/15
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11
T2  - Urban and Regional Planning
JF  - Urban and Regional Planning
JO  - Urban and Regional Planning
SP  - 58
EP  - 70
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1697
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11
AB  - The affordable housing crisis in Canada has reached a critical juncture, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities across the nation. As property prices soar and income levels fail to keep pace, an increasing number of Canadians find themselves struggling to secure suitable housing. This opinion article argues that addressing the affordable housing crisis requires a comprehensive approach that involves the collaborative efforts of governments, architects, and builders. The article examines the multifaceted nature of the affordable housing crisis, highlighting its impact on various socioeconomic groups and the challenges faced in finding solutions. It emphasizes the importance of affordable housing in fostering economic stability, promoting health and well-being, bolstering educational outcomes, and nurturing social cohesion and community development. The government's role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is discussed, focusing on the burden of government fees and taxes, zoning and regulatory compliance, and proposals to mitigate their impact. The article advocates for reforming fees, implementing policy alterations, and adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to create a more conducive environment for affordable housing development. The architects' role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is explored, highlighting the potential of architectural design competitions in promoting innovation, community engagement, and recognizing excellence in affordable housing design. The article emphasizes the importance of architectural innovation and creativity in envisioning and designing sustainable, community-centric housing solutions that cater to residents' psychological and social needs. The role of builders and developers in addressing the housing affordability crisis is also examined, with a focus on integrating sustainability for cost reduction, adopting new construction methods and materials, forming public-private partnerships for sustainable housing projects, and investing in education and training for sustainable practices. The article concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for a collective commitment to action, demanding bold leadership, creative thinking, and unwavering determination to build a future where every Canadian has access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. It underscores the importance of a holistic approach that addresses the direct and indirect factors contributing to the housing affordability crisis, ultimately cultivating a more equitable and sustainable housing market that benefits current and future homeowners while bolstering the overall economic and social well-being of the nation.

VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Reza Farkhondehpay

Business Development, Beverly Build, Toronto, Canada

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8137-0403

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APA Style

Farkhondehpay, R. (2024). Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis. Urban and Regional Planning, 9(3), 58-70. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11

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ACS Style

Farkhondehpay, R. Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis. Urban Reg. Plan. 2024, 9(3), 58-70. doi: 10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11

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AMA Style

Farkhondehpay R. Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis. Urban Reg Plan. 2024;9(3):58-70. doi: 10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11,
  author = {Reza Farkhondehpay},
  title = {Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis
},
  journal = {Urban and Regional Planning},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {58-70},
  doi = {10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.urp.20240903.11},
  abstract = {The affordable housing crisis in Canada has reached a critical juncture, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities across the nation. As property prices soar and income levels fail to keep pace, an increasing number of Canadians find themselves struggling to secure suitable housing. This opinion article argues that addressing the affordable housing crisis requires a comprehensive approach that involves the collaborative efforts of governments, architects, and builders. The article examines the multifaceted nature of the affordable housing crisis, highlighting its impact on various socioeconomic groups and the challenges faced in finding solutions. It emphasizes the importance of affordable housing in fostering economic stability, promoting health and well-being, bolstering educational outcomes, and nurturing social cohesion and community development. The government's role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is discussed, focusing on the burden of government fees and taxes, zoning and regulatory compliance, and proposals to mitigate their impact. The article advocates for reforming fees, implementing policy alterations, and adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to create a more conducive environment for affordable housing development. The architects' role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is explored, highlighting the potential of architectural design competitions in promoting innovation, community engagement, and recognizing excellence in affordable housing design. The article emphasizes the importance of architectural innovation and creativity in envisioning and designing sustainable, community-centric housing solutions that cater to residents' psychological and social needs. The role of builders and developers in addressing the housing affordability crisis is also examined, with a focus on integrating sustainability for cost reduction, adopting new construction methods and materials, forming public-private partnerships for sustainable housing projects, and investing in education and training for sustainable practices. The article concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for a collective commitment to action, demanding bold leadership, creative thinking, and unwavering determination to build a future where every Canadian has access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. It underscores the importance of a holistic approach that addresses the direct and indirect factors contributing to the housing affordability crisis, ultimately cultivating a more equitable and sustainable housing market that benefits current and future homeowners while bolstering the overall economic and social well-being of the nation.
},
 year = {2024}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Beyond Shelter: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Canada’s Housing Crisis

AU  - Reza Farkhondehpay
Y1  - 2024/07/15
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11
T2  - Urban and Regional Planning
JF  - Urban and Regional Planning
JO  - Urban and Regional Planning
SP  - 58
EP  - 70
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1697
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.urp.20240903.11
AB  - The affordable housing crisis in Canada has reached a critical juncture, with far-reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities across the nation. As property prices soar and income levels fail to keep pace, an increasing number of Canadians find themselves struggling to secure suitable housing. This opinion article argues that addressing the affordable housing crisis requires a comprehensive approach that involves the collaborative efforts of governments, architects, and builders. The article examines the multifaceted nature of the affordable housing crisis, highlighting its impact on various socioeconomic groups and the challenges faced in finding solutions. It emphasizes the importance of affordable housing in fostering economic stability, promoting health and well-being, bolstering educational outcomes, and nurturing social cohesion and community development. The government's role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is discussed, focusing on the burden of government fees and taxes, zoning and regulatory compliance, and proposals to mitigate their impact. The article advocates for reforming fees, implementing policy alterations, and adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to create a more conducive environment for affordable housing development. The architects' role in addressing the housing affordability crisis is explored, highlighting the potential of architectural design competitions in promoting innovation, community engagement, and recognizing excellence in affordable housing design. The article emphasizes the importance of architectural innovation and creativity in envisioning and designing sustainable, community-centric housing solutions that cater to residents' psychological and social needs. The role of builders and developers in addressing the housing affordability crisis is also examined, with a focus on integrating sustainability for cost reduction, adopting new construction methods and materials, forming public-private partnerships for sustainable housing projects, and investing in education and training for sustainable practices. The article concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for a collective commitment to action, demanding bold leadership, creative thinking, and unwavering determination to build a future where every Canadian has access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing. It underscores the importance of a holistic approach that addresses the direct and indirect factors contributing to the housing affordability crisis, ultimately cultivating a more equitable and sustainable housing market that benefits current and future homeowners while bolstering the overall economic and social well-being of the nation.

VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

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