Housing Assessment Resource Tools (HART)
@ubchart.bsky.social
HART is a research group working with governments, housing providers, and advocates across Canada to redefine how we measure and address housing need. https://hart.ubc.ca
Canada is investing billions in transit, but how do we densify around stations without displacing residents?
HART wants to study Vancouver's Broadway Plan to answer this critical question and create frameworks for communities nationwide.
🚇 Learn more: buff.ly/YWgpEUG
#TOD
HART wants to study Vancouver's Broadway Plan to answer this critical question and create frameworks for communities nationwide.
🚇 Learn more: buff.ly/YWgpEUG
#TOD
October 16, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Canada is investing billions in transit, but how do we densify around stations without displacing residents?
HART wants to study Vancouver's Broadway Plan to answer this critical question and create frameworks for communities nationwide.
🚇 Learn more: buff.ly/YWgpEUG
#TOD
HART wants to study Vancouver's Broadway Plan to answer this critical question and create frameworks for communities nationwide.
🚇 Learn more: buff.ly/YWgpEUG
#TOD
The 2026 Census will reveal Canada's post-pandemic housing reality without CERB distortions.
HART can build a unified national dashboard for less than the cost of a 2BR in Toronto.
Details: buff.ly/doG0l9M
#Census2026 #Housing #canpoli
HART can build a unified national dashboard for less than the cost of a 2BR in Toronto.
Details: buff.ly/doG0l9M
#Census2026 #Housing #canpoli
October 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The 2026 Census will reveal Canada's post-pandemic housing reality without CERB distortions.
HART can build a unified national dashboard for less than the cost of a 2BR in Toronto.
Details: buff.ly/doG0l9M
#Census2026 #Housing #canpoli
HART can build a unified national dashboard for less than the cost of a 2BR in Toronto.
Details: buff.ly/doG0l9M
#Census2026 #Housing #canpoli
What does a $6M+ return on investment look like?
HART tools have saved Canadian communities millions in consultant fees while becoming a core metric in 73% of Canada's cities.
Free tools. Real impact. Evidence-based policy.
📊 Read the impact report: buff.ly/J2SnAWK
#housing #canpoli
HART tools have saved Canadian communities millions in consultant fees while becoming a core metric in 73% of Canada's cities.
Free tools. Real impact. Evidence-based policy.
📊 Read the impact report: buff.ly/J2SnAWK
#housing #canpoli
October 8, 2025 at 3:55 PM
What does a $6M+ return on investment look like?
HART tools have saved Canadian communities millions in consultant fees while becoming a core metric in 73% of Canada's cities.
Free tools. Real impact. Evidence-based policy.
📊 Read the impact report: buff.ly/J2SnAWK
#housing #canpoli
HART tools have saved Canadian communities millions in consultant fees while becoming a core metric in 73% of Canada's cities.
Free tools. Real impact. Evidence-based policy.
📊 Read the impact report: buff.ly/J2SnAWK
#housing #canpoli
New StatsCan research out this week - highlights:
1. Renters are moving a lot less often - % of long-term tenants is up to nearly 45%.
2. New tenants are paying on average $400/month MORE than tenants who have stayed for 5+ years. In 2001 it was negligible.
Read the research here: buff.ly/jAk3lB3
1. Renters are moving a lot less often - % of long-term tenants is up to nearly 45%.
2. New tenants are paying on average $400/month MORE than tenants who have stayed for 5+ years. In 2001 it was negligible.
Read the research here: buff.ly/jAk3lB3
August 28, 2025 at 5:10 PM
New StatsCan research out this week - highlights:
1. Renters are moving a lot less often - % of long-term tenants is up to nearly 45%.
2. New tenants are paying on average $400/month MORE than tenants who have stayed for 5+ years. In 2001 it was negligible.
Read the research here: buff.ly/jAk3lB3
1. Renters are moving a lot less often - % of long-term tenants is up to nearly 45%.
2. New tenants are paying on average $400/month MORE than tenants who have stayed for 5+ years. In 2001 it was negligible.
Read the research here: buff.ly/jAk3lB3
NEW BLOG: Why Living Alone is Now a Luxury Most Young Canadians Can't Afford
On average, young people earn about 25% less than those just a decade older. Yet they’re paying the same high rents. The result? Fewer resources to support yourself and live the way you want.
Read more: buff.ly/eLmSESk
On average, young people earn about 25% less than those just a decade older. Yet they’re paying the same high rents. The result? Fewer resources to support yourself and live the way you want.
Read more: buff.ly/eLmSESk
August 13, 2025 at 3:03 PM
NEW BLOG: Why Living Alone is Now a Luxury Most Young Canadians Can't Afford
On average, young people earn about 25% less than those just a decade older. Yet they’re paying the same high rents. The result? Fewer resources to support yourself and live the way you want.
Read more: buff.ly/eLmSESk
On average, young people earn about 25% less than those just a decade older. Yet they’re paying the same high rents. The result? Fewer resources to support yourself and live the way you want.
Read more: buff.ly/eLmSESk
According to CMHC's latest Social and Affordable Housing Survey, there are a paltry 600k homes available to over 40 million Canadians. Per capita, that looks like just under 0.015 homes per person. France has 482x more social #housing units/person. We need to build more social🏘️.
buff.ly/72wuXbV
buff.ly/72wuXbV
July 24, 2025 at 9:26 PM
According to CMHC's latest Social and Affordable Housing Survey, there are a paltry 600k homes available to over 40 million Canadians. Per capita, that looks like just under 0.015 homes per person. France has 482x more social #housing units/person. We need to build more social🏘️.
buff.ly/72wuXbV
buff.ly/72wuXbV
In most metropolitan areas, asking rents have gone up by nearly $500 per month since 2019. Even if we are able to build enough housing in the next 10 years, we must tackle investor-driven rent inflation to alleviate #housing precarity across Canada.
June 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
In most metropolitan areas, asking rents have gone up by nearly $500 per month since 2019. Even if we are able to build enough housing in the next 10 years, we must tackle investor-driven rent inflation to alleviate #housing precarity across Canada.
For the first time, StatsCan is releasing quarterly data on asking rents, and this confirms that renters are not OK. In Vancouver, single rooms (not full apartments) are going for over $1,000 per month. In Montreal, we've seen asking rents increase by nearly 71%.
buff.ly/TC7WS8r
buff.ly/TC7WS8r
June 25, 2025 at 3:13 PM
For the first time, StatsCan is releasing quarterly data on asking rents, and this confirms that renters are not OK. In Vancouver, single rooms (not full apartments) are going for over $1,000 per month. In Montreal, we've seen asking rents increase by nearly 71%.
buff.ly/TC7WS8r
buff.ly/TC7WS8r
According to the 2025 Canadian Renters report, 51% of renters are paying over 30% of their income on rent, and of the renters who don't plan on buying a property, half say it's because they don't think they could ever afford it.
June 19, 2025 at 5:16 PM
According to the 2025 Canadian Renters report, 51% of renters are paying over 30% of their income on rent, and of the renters who don't plan on buying a property, half say it's because they don't think they could ever afford it.
When amending zoning to permit multiplexes citywide, Toronto's engagement strategy included a roundtable with residents of diverse backgrounds, including equity-deserving groups. Their lived experiences & expertise were incorporated into recommendations for the City. 4/5
May 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
When amending zoning to permit multiplexes citywide, Toronto's engagement strategy included a roundtable with residents of diverse backgrounds, including equity-deserving groups. Their lived experiences & expertise were incorporated into recommendations for the City. 4/5
Another potential solution is to improve our community engagement models. Citizen Assemblies show one way to reform community engagement, which have been used in Canadian cities & globally. 3/5
May 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Another potential solution is to improve our community engagement models. Citizen Assemblies show one way to reform community engagement, which have been used in Canadian cities & globally. 3/5
Engaging in long-term community planning, with detailed plans for growth & increasing diversity in the housing supply, is one solution. An example of this is BC's proactive planning policies, which engage communities for detailed planning at the Official Community Plan stage. 2/5
May 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Engaging in long-term community planning, with detailed plans for growth & increasing diversity in the housing supply, is one solution. An example of this is BC's proactive planning policies, which engage communities for detailed planning at the Official Community Plan stage. 2/5
A considerable barrier to building housing on public land is political risk. NIMBY attitudes and unpredictable councillors can make a housing project sink or swim. We've broken down some of the key solutions to this risk in our latest report. 1/5
May 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A considerable barrier to building housing on public land is political risk. NIMBY attitudes and unpredictable councillors can make a housing project sink or swim. We've broken down some of the key solutions to this risk in our latest report. 1/5
Challenging parcels can also be used to create public spaces, such as Toronto’s Meadoway: this underutilized hydro corridor is being transformed into a 16km urban park that will increase biodiversity & restore meadow ecosystems. 3/
May 21, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Challenging parcels can also be used to create public spaces, such as Toronto’s Meadoway: this underutilized hydro corridor is being transformed into a 16km urban park that will increase biodiversity & restore meadow ecosystems. 3/
Participants also flagged governments should prioritize surplus land for housing. The land can be co-developed with other agencies to increase infrastructure. An example is Vancouver’s Coal Harbour Project, which is an affordable housing development that includes additional community amenities. 2/4
May 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Participants also flagged governments should prioritize surplus land for housing. The land can be co-developed with other agencies to increase infrastructure. An example is Vancouver’s Coal Harbour Project, which is an affordable housing development that includes additional community amenities. 2/4
When building housing on public land, challenges can arise related to the land’s quality, such as limited infrastructure, contamination or poor site conditions. One solution is that the public authority disposing of the land should ensure it’s clear or "shovel-ready." 🧵 1/4
May 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
When building housing on public land, challenges can arise related to the land’s quality, such as limited infrastructure, contamination or poor site conditions. One solution is that the public authority disposing of the land should ensure it’s clear or "shovel-ready." 🧵 1/4
A more standardized & simple building code can help housing growth beyond municipal jurisdictions. 4/5
May 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
A more standardized & simple building code can help housing growth beyond municipal jurisdictions. 4/5
Policies that limit land speculation can help encourage construction on vacant land parcels. 3/5
May 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Policies that limit land speculation can help encourage construction on vacant land parcels. 3/5
Construction techniques, such as modular housing, can help combat costs. Greater incentives for skilled trades training can help address labour shortages. 2/5
May 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Construction techniques, such as modular housing, can help combat costs. Greater incentives for skilled trades training can help address labour shortages. 2/5
Construction costs & supply chains are major barriers to housing development projects. HART’s latest report provides insights into the solutions, as identified by housing stakeholders. 🧵 1/5
May 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Construction costs & supply chains are major barriers to housing development projects. HART’s latest report provides insights into the solutions, as identified by housing stakeholders. 🧵 1/5
Canada's most expensive city to find housing, Vancouver rental options are predominantly in the secondary market, and just 12% of rentals are subsidized. Between 2022 and 2023, average rents went up by over 9%. See more data on Vancouver or other cities in our Federal HNA Template: buff.ly/rgFhEVG
May 13, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Canada's most expensive city to find housing, Vancouver rental options are predominantly in the secondary market, and just 12% of rentals are subsidized. Between 2022 and 2023, average rents went up by over 9%. See more data on Vancouver or other cities in our Federal HNA Template: buff.ly/rgFhEVG
BC's Capital only saw 135 units of affordable housing built between 2016 and 2021, and none of them were close to transit. Since 2020, average rents have skyrocketed by over $260 per month. Get the whole story using the Federal HNA Template online: buff.ly/Z2Cl7jh
May 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
BC's Capital only saw 135 units of affordable housing built between 2016 and 2021, and none of them were close to transit. Since 2020, average rents have skyrocketed by over $260 per month. Get the whole story using the Federal HNA Template online: buff.ly/Z2Cl7jh
Mississauga's program provides grants for developers building affordable & below market units, including grants to cover building permit fees & $60,000-$130,000 per unit. 3/4
May 7, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Mississauga's program provides grants for developers building affordable & below market units, including grants to cover building permit fees & $60,000-$130,000 per unit. 3/4
One example is Vancouver’s Community Housing Incentive Program, a dedicated funding stream for non-market providers. 2/4
May 7, 2025 at 3:45 PM
One example is Vancouver’s Community Housing Incentive Program, a dedicated funding stream for non-market providers. 2/4
There is a strong argument for building capacity non-market #housing in Canada, but the sector faces major challenges to scaling. We've compiled solutions to better support the sector including dedicated programs for non-market providers & funding for supportive housing. 🧵 1/4
May 7, 2025 at 3:45 PM
There is a strong argument for building capacity non-market #housing in Canada, but the sector faces major challenges to scaling. We've compiled solutions to better support the sector including dedicated programs for non-market providers & funding for supportive housing. 🧵 1/4