Balanced Supply of Housing
@bshnode.bsky.social
CMHC-SSHRC funded group of academic and community-based housing researchers with a focus on housing affordability in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, Canada 🍁
🔗 bsh.ubc.ca
🔗 bsh.ubc.ca
Our Research in Progress webinar series is back!
We're starting off the year with a timely discussion of AGIs, displacement trends specifically among the vulnerable senior population & the rise and proliferation of financialized landlords.
January 27, 10 AM PT/1 PM ET
🧑💻https://bit.ly/RisingAGIs
We're starting off the year with a timely discussion of AGIs, displacement trends specifically among the vulnerable senior population & the rise and proliferation of financialized landlords.
January 27, 10 AM PT/1 PM ET
🧑💻https://bit.ly/RisingAGIs
January 7, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Our Research in Progress webinar series is back!
We're starting off the year with a timely discussion of AGIs, displacement trends specifically among the vulnerable senior population & the rise and proliferation of financialized landlords.
January 27, 10 AM PT/1 PM ET
🧑💻https://bit.ly/RisingAGIs
We're starting off the year with a timely discussion of AGIs, displacement trends specifically among the vulnerable senior population & the rise and proliferation of financialized landlords.
January 27, 10 AM PT/1 PM ET
🧑💻https://bit.ly/RisingAGIs
Our latest episode of the Overhead in partnership with Spacing Radio is now out! Hear from #CLT leaders Joshua Barndt from PNLT and Norm Leech from DTES CLT who share insight into scaling CLTs, policy hurdles, and reimagining community-led development.
New episode of our housing series The Overhead on the @spacingradio.bsky.social feed: from Parkdale in Toronto to the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, community land trusts are growing, and keeping housing affordable in their communities: spacing.ca/national/202... @bshnode.bsky.social
The Overhead: Community land trusts gaining ground - Spacing National
THIS EPISODE: Community Land Trusts Gaining Ground A good news story in recent years is the amount of progress Community Land Trusts (CLTs) have made in communities across the country. New CLTs are be...
spacing.ca
January 5, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Our latest episode of the Overhead in partnership with Spacing Radio is now out! Hear from #CLT leaders Joshua Barndt from PNLT and Norm Leech from DTES CLT who share insight into scaling CLTs, policy hurdles, and reimagining community-led development.
Celebrating a milestone in community-led #housing!
Huge congratulations to the DTES CLT on acquiring their first building—a transformative step toward housing security in Vancouver's DTES.
📰
Huge congratulations to the DTES CLT on acquiring their first building—a transformative step toward housing security in Vancouver's DTES.
📰
Exclusive: Powell Rooms SRO set to become a unique model of community-owned housing
The Downtown Eastside Community Land Trust is buying the building to preserve it as deeply affordable housing and childcare space.
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Celebrating a milestone in community-led #housing!
Huge congratulations to the DTES CLT on acquiring their first building—a transformative step toward housing security in Vancouver's DTES.
📰
Huge congratulations to the DTES CLT on acquiring their first building—a transformative step toward housing security in Vancouver's DTES.
📰
When research & reason align, we get policies that make sense for livable #density & #housing accessibility.
Vancouver just approved single egress for up to 6 stories—a policy change @conradspeckert.bsky.social & Dr. Nik Luka have long advocated for.
➡️ See more research: bsh.ubc.ca?s=single+stair
Vancouver just approved single egress for up to 6 stories—a policy change @conradspeckert.bsky.social & Dr. Nik Luka have long advocated for.
➡️ See more research: bsh.ubc.ca?s=single+stair
December 12, 2025 at 5:47 PM
When research & reason align, we get policies that make sense for livable #density & #housing accessibility.
Vancouver just approved single egress for up to 6 stories—a policy change @conradspeckert.bsky.social & Dr. Nik Luka have long advocated for.
➡️ See more research: bsh.ubc.ca?s=single+stair
Vancouver just approved single egress for up to 6 stories—a policy change @conradspeckert.bsky.social & Dr. Nik Luka have long advocated for.
➡️ See more research: bsh.ubc.ca?s=single+stair
We know housing can exist outside of market forces, so what's the hold up?
In our latest episode of the Overhead, we sit down with Drs. David Wachsmuth & Leila Ghaffari to tackle one of the most pressing questions in urban policy: Is it possible to decommodify housing?
🎧
In our latest episode of the Overhead, we sit down with Drs. David Wachsmuth & Leila Ghaffari to tackle one of the most pressing questions in urban policy: Is it possible to decommodify housing?
🎧
Episode 15: Decommodifying Housing
Can we truly decommodify housing? In this episode of the Overhead podcast, housing researchers David Wachsmuth and Leila Ghaffari discuss decommodifying housing markets, barriers to affordable housing, and how to create a housing system based on shelter needs rather than investment value.
buff.ly
December 12, 2025 at 1:15 PM
We know housing can exist outside of market forces, so what's the hold up?
In our latest episode of the Overhead, we sit down with Drs. David Wachsmuth & Leila Ghaffari to tackle one of the most pressing questions in urban policy: Is it possible to decommodify housing?
🎧
In our latest episode of the Overhead, we sit down with Drs. David Wachsmuth & Leila Ghaffari to tackle one of the most pressing questions in urban policy: Is it possible to decommodify housing?
🎧
"Rights do not exist in abstraction: they must be grounded in the social, economic, and institutional systems that make their realization possible."
This #HumanRightsDay, we're reminded of the gap between our housing policy promises & legal reality. Here's what we're doing about it buff.ly/9JwhsAk
This #HumanRightsDay, we're reminded of the gap between our housing policy promises & legal reality. Here's what we're doing about it buff.ly/9JwhsAk
How Evidence-Based Housing Policy Advances the Right to Housing in Canada
Can data chart a right? In this blog, Dr. Alexandra Flynn examines how evidence-based housing research advances the constitutional and legal foundation for housing rights in Canada. Exploring the gap…
buff.ly
December 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
"Rights do not exist in abstraction: they must be grounded in the social, economic, and institutional systems that make their realization possible."
This #HumanRightsDay, we're reminded of the gap between our housing policy promises & legal reality. Here's what we're doing about it buff.ly/9JwhsAk
This #HumanRightsDay, we're reminded of the gap between our housing policy promises & legal reality. Here's what we're doing about it buff.ly/9JwhsAk
2/2 Supported by BSH staff & researchers, the group calls for:
1. Consultation with impacted community members
2. Report-back on conversations between Mayor’s office & prov. & fed. housing ministers
3. Plan to retain DTES assets & create more shelter-rate housing without displacement
1. Consultation with impacted community members
2. Report-back on conversations between Mayor’s office & prov. & fed. housing ministers
3. Plan to retain DTES assets & create more shelter-rate housing without displacement
December 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
2/2 Supported by BSH staff & researchers, the group calls for:
1. Consultation with impacted community members
2. Report-back on conversations between Mayor’s office & prov. & fed. housing ministers
3. Plan to retain DTES assets & create more shelter-rate housing without displacement
1. Consultation with impacted community members
2. Report-back on conversations between Mayor’s office & prov. & fed. housing ministers
3. Plan to retain DTES assets & create more shelter-rate housing without displacement
1/2 "In the context of a housing crisis, with over 2500 people homeless in Vancouver and a continual loss of affordable housing, any plan that limits social housing is unacceptable."
Open letter calls against gentrification of the DTES in light of DEOD plan.
buff.ly/OAcjEYU
Open letter calls against gentrification of the DTES in light of DEOD plan.
buff.ly/OAcjEYU
Hundreds of Academics Sign Letter Against City’s ‘Uplifting the DTES’ Plan
Academics: “Any plan that limits social housing is unacceptable”
themainlander.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
1/2 "In the context of a housing crisis, with over 2500 people homeless in Vancouver and a continual loss of affordable housing, any plan that limits social housing is unacceptable."
Open letter calls against gentrification of the DTES in light of DEOD plan.
buff.ly/OAcjEYU
Open letter calls against gentrification of the DTES in light of DEOD plan.
buff.ly/OAcjEYU
New research from @risewomenslegal.bsky.social & the National Housing Council shows Canada's housing crisis is trapping survivors. On this Nat'l Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women, we honour those lost to GBV and call for urgent reform.
See more in our latest blog:
See more in our latest blog:
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women 2025
Canada marks December 6th by honoring the 14 women murdered at École Polytechnique in 1989 and confronting today's intersecting crises. New reports reveal how housing insecurity and family law…
buff.ly
December 6, 2025 at 9:32 PM
New research from @risewomenslegal.bsky.social & the National Housing Council shows Canada's housing crisis is trapping survivors. On this Nat'l Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women, we honour those lost to GBV and call for urgent reform.
See more in our latest blog:
See more in our latest blog:
We're honoured to be represented alongside incredible research & community-based projects in @uoftcities.bsky.social recent report, Learning From What Works, which spotlights 89 local solutions to making better places.
🏘️ Skip to the #housing chapter for a feature on our #CLT work: buff.ly/4BhEw63
🏘️ Skip to the #housing chapter for a feature on our #CLT work: buff.ly/4BhEw63
December 3, 2025 at 8:30 PM
We're honoured to be represented alongside incredible research & community-based projects in @uoftcities.bsky.social recent report, Learning From What Works, which spotlights 89 local solutions to making better places.
🏘️ Skip to the #housing chapter for a feature on our #CLT work: buff.ly/4BhEw63
🏘️ Skip to the #housing chapter for a feature on our #CLT work: buff.ly/4BhEw63
2/2 But rights aren't abstract. They're built through policy, data, and accountability.
BSH research on #evictions, #CommunityLandTrusts, #zoning & #financialization provides the structural analysis needed to realize housing rights.
🧑💻 Read our latest blog for more: buff.ly/L4aYJSG
BSH research on #evictions, #CommunityLandTrusts, #zoning & #financialization provides the structural analysis needed to realize housing rights.
🧑💻 Read our latest blog for more: buff.ly/L4aYJSG
How Evidence-Based Housing Policy Advances the Right to Housing in Canada
Can data chart a right? In this blog, Dr. Alexandra Flynn examines how evidence-based housing research advances the constitutional and legal foundation for housing rights in Canada. Exploring the gap…
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 10:29 PM
2/2 But rights aren't abstract. They're built through policy, data, and accountability.
BSH research on #evictions, #CommunityLandTrusts, #zoning & #financialization provides the structural analysis needed to realize housing rights.
🧑💻 Read our latest blog for more: buff.ly/L4aYJSG
BSH research on #evictions, #CommunityLandTrusts, #zoning & #financialization provides the structural analysis needed to realize housing rights.
🧑💻 Read our latest blog for more: buff.ly/L4aYJSG
1/2 The Neha Panel's report asks: Is Canada upholding its legal commitment to #housing as a human right?
The answer: Not yet. But the path forward requires understanding what "progressive realization" actually means and how data makes rights real.
📘 Neha Report: buff.ly/ymQumyr
The answer: Not yet. But the path forward requires understanding what "progressive realization" actually means and how data makes rights real.
📘 Neha Report: buff.ly/ymQumyr
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 10:29 PM
1/2 The Neha Panel's report asks: Is Canada upholding its legal commitment to #housing as a human right?
The answer: Not yet. But the path forward requires understanding what "progressive realization" actually means and how data makes rights real.
📘 Neha Report: buff.ly/ymQumyr
The answer: Not yet. But the path forward requires understanding what "progressive realization" actually means and how data makes rights real.
📘 Neha Report: buff.ly/ymQumyr
This is the future of housing justice in action. Congratulations to everyone who made this happen!
📚 For more on our research, check out our Parkdale Tower Rental Housing Study at bsh.ubc.ca/research/tower-rentals-in-parkdale/ or learn more about our CLT research at bsh.ubc.ca/research/CLTs
📚 For more on our research, check out our Parkdale Tower Rental Housing Study at bsh.ubc.ca/research/tower-rentals-in-parkdale/ or learn more about our CLT research at bsh.ubc.ca/research/CLTs
Tower Rentals in Parkdale | Balanced Supply of Housing
Last modified: The Neighborhood Land Trust & Parkdale People's Economy will implement a Community Action Research Project that seeks to document and respond to the increasing financialization and dimi...
bsh.ubc.ca
November 24, 2025 at 9:52 PM
This is the future of housing justice in action. Congratulations to everyone who made this happen!
📚 For more on our research, check out our Parkdale Tower Rental Housing Study at bsh.ubc.ca/research/tower-rentals-in-parkdale/ or learn more about our CLT research at bsh.ubc.ca/research/CLTs
📚 For more on our research, check out our Parkdale Tower Rental Housing Study at bsh.ubc.ca/research/tower-rentals-in-parkdale/ or learn more about our CLT research at bsh.ubc.ca/research/CLTs
This project exemplifies the kind of community-led solutions our #CLT research advocates for. Our work on tower rentals in Parkdale documented the challenges facing residents in aging buildings & the innovative approaches to preserve affordability & strengthen community control.
November 24, 2025 at 9:52 PM
This project exemplifies the kind of community-led solutions our #CLT research advocates for. Our work on tower rentals in Parkdale documented the challenges facing residents in aging buildings & the innovative approaches to preserve affordability & strengthen community control.
Congratulations to our community partner,
Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, on being selected by the City of Toronto to develop Parkdale People’s Place which will remain permanently affordable through #community land ownership.
🔗 pnlt.ca/land/parkdal...
Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, on being selected by the City of Toronto to develop Parkdale People’s Place which will remain permanently affordable through #community land ownership.
🔗 pnlt.ca/land/parkdal...
Neighbourhood Land Trust
Land, Held, Together. Community ownership for community benefit.
pnlt.ca
November 24, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Congratulations to our community partner,
Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, on being selected by the City of Toronto to develop Parkdale People’s Place which will remain permanently affordable through #community land ownership.
🔗 pnlt.ca/land/parkdal...
Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, on being selected by the City of Toronto to develop Parkdale People’s Place which will remain permanently affordable through #community land ownership.
🔗 pnlt.ca/land/parkdal...
This week, BSH joined housing leaders, researchers & community partners at Housing Central to discuss complex and intersectional issues around housing affordability.
Read our full conference recap for insights on CLTs, eviction prevention, NOS & Indigenous housing strategies
Read our full conference recap for insights on CLTs, eviction prevention, NOS & Indigenous housing strategies
Housing Central 2025: Land Trusts, Eviction Prevention, and Systems Change
Read our takeaways from Housing Central 2025 conference, including reflections on community land trusts, eviction prevention, and systems change in light of Build Canada Homes and the recently…
buff.ly
November 21, 2025 at 11:05 PM
This week, BSH joined housing leaders, researchers & community partners at Housing Central to discuss complex and intersectional issues around housing affordability.
Read our full conference recap for insights on CLTs, eviction prevention, NOS & Indigenous housing strategies
Read our full conference recap for insights on CLTs, eviction prevention, NOS & Indigenous housing strategies
For more research on #missingmiddle housing, visit:
📙https://bsh.ubc.ca/research/moving-forward-on-the-missing-middle/
📘https://bsh.ubc.ca/research/concerted-action-on-the-missing-middle/
📙https://bsh.ubc.ca/research/moving-forward-on-the-missing-middle/
📘https://bsh.ubc.ca/research/concerted-action-on-the-missing-middle/
November 13, 2025 at 8:49 PM
For more research on #missingmiddle housing, visit:
📙https://bsh.ubc.ca/research/moving-forward-on-the-missing-middle/
📘https://bsh.ubc.ca/research/concerted-action-on-the-missing-middle/
📙https://bsh.ubc.ca/research/moving-forward-on-the-missing-middle/
📘https://bsh.ubc.ca/research/concerted-action-on-the-missing-middle/
Have you ever wondered why apartments are so tiny? It's because our building codes & zoning make family-sized missing-middle #housing nearly impossible.
This Globe piece breaks down the regulatory knot, which BSH research is working to untangle.
This Globe piece breaks down the regulatory knot, which BSH research is working to untangle.
Great visualization in @theglobeandmail.com on the impact of double egress requirements in Canada. A huge disappointment that single stair will not be included in upcoming code changes (very difficult to solve a housing crisis w/o a Team Canada approach).
buff.ly/NBpqgTY
buff.ly/NBpqgTY
The era of the shoebox condo is over. Here’s how Canada can build livable apartments
Canada needs livable apartments to help fix the housing crisis. To do that, it must change the rulebook for both condos and rentals
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Have you ever wondered why apartments are so tiny? It's because our building codes & zoning make family-sized missing-middle #housing nearly impossible.
This Globe piece breaks down the regulatory knot, which BSH research is working to untangle.
This Globe piece breaks down the regulatory knot, which BSH research is working to untangle.
Our recent "Le Dernier Flip" screening & panel explored CLTs, Social Utility Trusts & decommodified #housing models that prioritize community over speculation.
🧑💻 Read our takeaways from the film & discussion in our latest blog:
buff.ly/ub3Dz7E
🧑💻 Read our takeaways from the film & discussion in our latest blog:
buff.ly/ub3Dz7E
Le Dernier Flip: Reimagining Housing Through Community Ownership
Le Dernier Flip examines how housing financialization has made homeownership inaccessible for most young Canadians. Learn about Community Land Trusts, Social Utility Trusts, and other models that…
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Our recent "Le Dernier Flip" screening & panel explored CLTs, Social Utility Trusts & decommodified #housing models that prioritize community over speculation.
🧑💻 Read our takeaways from the film & discussion in our latest blog:
buff.ly/ub3Dz7E
🧑💻 Read our takeaways from the film & discussion in our latest blog:
buff.ly/ub3Dz7E
7/7 Bottom line: Budget 2025 makes meaningful investments in supportive housing and preservation. That's real progress.
But without tenant protections and accountability funding, we're only solving half the problem.
🔗 buff.ly/xdZ9DBa
But without tenant protections and accountability funding, we're only solving half the problem.
🔗 buff.ly/xdZ9DBa
November 6, 2025 at 8:23 PM
7/7 Bottom line: Budget 2025 makes meaningful investments in supportive housing and preservation. That's real progress.
But without tenant protections and accountability funding, we're only solving half the problem.
🔗 buff.ly/xdZ9DBa
But without tenant protections and accountability funding, we're only solving half the problem.
🔗 buff.ly/xdZ9DBa
6/7 The new capital budgeting framework could unlock capital for non-market housing, which is exactly what the sector needs.
But we're watching to ensure "affordable housing" definitions stay stringent and tied to actual housing need, not market rates.
But we're watching to ensure "affordable housing" definitions stay stringent and tied to actual housing need, not market rates.
November 6, 2025 at 8:23 PM
6/7 The new capital budgeting framework could unlock capital for non-market housing, which is exactly what the sector needs.
But we're watching to ensure "affordable housing" definitions stay stringent and tied to actual housing need, not market rates.
But we're watching to ensure "affordable housing" definitions stay stringent and tied to actual housing need, not market rates.
5/7 Build Canada Homes consolidates programs under one agency with "flexibility to finance projects over multiple years."
Sounds promising. But will non-profit providers actually access this capital? Or will it flow primarily to private developers? Details matter.
Sounds promising. But will non-profit providers actually access this capital? Or will it flow primarily to private developers? Details matter.
November 6, 2025 at 8:23 PM
5/7 Build Canada Homes consolidates programs under one agency with "flexibility to finance projects over multiple years."
Sounds promising. But will non-profit providers actually access this capital? Or will it flow primarily to private developers? Details matter.
Sounds promising. But will non-profit providers actually access this capital? Or will it flow primarily to private developers? Details matter.
4/7 The $1B for supportive housing is a game-changer but only if provinces step up with operating funding for wraparound services.
Brick and mortar alone won't end homelessness. We need health supports, employment services, and coordinated care.
Brick and mortar alone won't end homelessness. We need health supports, employment services, and coordinated care.
November 6, 2025 at 8:23 PM
4/7 The $1B for supportive housing is a game-changer but only if provinces step up with operating funding for wraparound services.
Brick and mortar alone won't end homelessness. We need health supports, employment services, and coordinated care.
Brick and mortar alone won't end homelessness. We need health supports, employment services, and coordinated care.
3/7 ❌ GAPS: No Renter Bill of Rights. No security of tenure protections. No visible funding for Federal Housing Advocate. Insufficient funding to respond to encampments & homelessness. If you're facing a renoviction today, tomorrow's supply doesn't help you. We need both supply & tenant protection.
November 6, 2025 at 8:23 PM
3/7 ❌ GAPS: No Renter Bill of Rights. No security of tenure protections. No visible funding for Federal Housing Advocate. Insufficient funding to respond to encampments & homelessness. If you're facing a renoviction today, tomorrow's supply doesn't help you. We need both supply & tenant protection.
2/7 ✅ WINS:
$1B for supportive/transitional housing
$1.5B for Canada Rental Protection Fund
$51B infrastructure fund (with development charge reduction requirements!)
Largest co-op investment in 30 years
They listened on supply. But supply isn't everything.
$1B for supportive/transitional housing
$1.5B for Canada Rental Protection Fund
$51B infrastructure fund (with development charge reduction requirements!)
Largest co-op investment in 30 years
They listened on supply. But supply isn't everything.
November 6, 2025 at 8:23 PM
2/7 ✅ WINS:
$1B for supportive/transitional housing
$1.5B for Canada Rental Protection Fund
$51B infrastructure fund (with development charge reduction requirements!)
Largest co-op investment in 30 years
They listened on supply. But supply isn't everything.
$1B for supportive/transitional housing
$1.5B for Canada Rental Protection Fund
$51B infrastructure fund (with development charge reduction requirements!)
Largest co-op investment in 30 years
They listened on supply. But supply isn't everything.