News

National Housing Accord authors applaud $20B federal boost to low-cost rental housing financing
September 27, 2023 - 6:00 am / News

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) and REALPAC welcome the federal government’s announcement that it will unlock an additional $20 billion in low-cost financing for rental housing construction. The federal government estimates that this measure will add an additional 30,000 new rental units a year.   In August, the CAEH … More

Authors of the National Housing Accord welcome federal government announcement on GST removal for purpose-built rental construction
September 14, 2023 - 2:57 pm / News

Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced that the federal government is introducing legislation to remove the GST on the construction of new rental apartment buildings, as part of a new suite of measures aimed at addressing the rising cost of living … More

Fort McMurray Ends Veteran Homelessness
August 22, 2023 - 9:00 am / News

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness has recognized Fort McMurray as the third community in Canada to reach Functional Zero Veteran Homelessness. This milestone would not have been possible without the work of 14 community organizations supporting the program and serving the homeless sector, the Royal Canadian Legion and Veterans Affairs Canada.

Non-profit and private sectors join forces to address Canada’s rental housing crisis
August 15, 2023 - 9:57 am / News

Ottawa, Ontario – In an effort to restore affordability, build a healthy rental housing system and protect Canada’s most vulnerable residents at risk of experiencing homelessness, a group of Canadian housing sector organizations – non-profit and for-profit housing providers, developers, and investors – came together at a Roundtable to create The National Housing Accord: A Multi-Sector Approach to Ending Canada’s Rental Housing Crisis. 

Bright Spot: Stratford-Perth-St. Marys reduces chronic homelessness by 10 per cent
June 22, 2023 - 5:00 am / News

Earlier this year, as the calendar flipped from 2022 to 2023, the Built for Zero-Canada community of Stratford-Perth-St. Marys was actively planning to ring in the new year with a significant goal: reducing chronic homelessness. By March, they did just that. For three consecutive months, from December 2022 to February … More

Statement on Proposed City of Barrie By-Law Amendment Criminalizing People Experiencing Homelessness
June 20, 2023 - 1:25 pm / News

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness is deeply concerned by a proposed by-law amendment being considered by Barrie City Council that would prevent support being provided to people experiencing homelessness within the city. The proposed by-law amendment would make it illegal for anyone to provide food, water, clothing, shelter or … More

Tim Richter Presents to House of Commons’ HUMA Committee on Financialization
June 15, 2023 - 5:08 pm / News

The term ‘financialization’ is normally raised in the context of behaviour by some housing market actors who will purchase low cost, older rental housing and increase rents to generate more profit. Often, they do this by evicting existing tenants. 

This contributes to a major problem in Canada’s housing market. Canada is losing affordable rental housing at an alarming rate. According to noted housing policy expert Steve Pomeroy, over 550,000 units below $750/month were lost between 2011 and 2021. This represents 6% of total unsubsidized rental housing in Canada. This means there are fewer and fewer affordable options for low-income households.

CAEH welcomes announcement of federal Veteran Homelessness Program
April 27, 2023 - 5:09 pm / News

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) is welcoming the federal government’s announcement of a new Veteran Homelessness Program. This announcement of $79.1 million in rent supplements and wraparound supports for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness should dramatically accelerate reductions in homelessness for Veterans putting Canada well on … More

St. Thomas-Elgin Ends Veteran Homelessness
April 11, 2023 - 3:19 pm / News

St. Thomas-Elgin becomes the second community in Canada to achieve Functional Zero Veteran Homelessness  St. Thomas-Elgin, Ontario, Canada – In the midst of a growing homelessness crisis across the country, the community of St. Thomas-Elgin, a Built for Zero Canada community, has reached a significant milestone in the fight against … More

Budget 2023 ignores Canada’s worsening housing and homelessness crises, fails to support those in greatest need.
March 28, 2023 - 2:49 pm / News

As communities across the country experience an increase in homelessness and an explosion in housing need, today’s federal budget fails to do anything new to address the crisis Canada is facing. With one million newcomers, a wave of new homelessness driven by rampant inflation, and a massive loss of affordable … More