We see the devastating effects of the housing crisis in our communities every day and we are excited to launch a new housing report and plan that highlights tangible steps to address it.
United Way East Ontario has been working with local community partners and other Ontario United Ways for years, to assess and address critical housing needs. In just the last couple of years we have:
- Launched a province-wide sector engagement strategy to develop practical, solutions-focused recommendations to all levels of government on partnering with the sector to grow and protect affordable housing in Ontario.
- Released a report titled, Bringing affordable housing home: An action plan for housing stability in Ontario.
- Called for the provincial government to take meaningful actions to both prevent homelessness and improve the lives of those experiencing it in our communities.
- Submitted our recommendations to the Finance Committee through the 2025 pre-budget submission, highlighting the need for investments in housing and homelessness, including support for youth.
Today, United Way Greater Toronto, with support of United Ways across Ontario, has joined together with the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and SHS Consulting to launch the Built for Good: Delivering the Housing Ontario Needs report. This report provides data-driven insights on the current state of housing in Ontario and shares actionable policy recommendations to help ensure more Ontarians have a safe, stable place to call home.
Built for Good includes a costed, delivery-ready plan to address a critical part of Ontario’s housing crisis—by investing in the non-profit and co-op housing sector to build, protect and sustain the affordable housing people need.
We know that the provincial government cannot hit its 1.5 million new homes target without building homes for people the private market leaves behind, such as seniors, essential workers, newcomers, and low-income families. The analysis presented in Built for Good shows that a different way is not only possible but essential for Ontario’s prosperity.
Through engagements and existing research, we were able to identify three major themes that emerged around the need for transformation of our system:
- A Tangible Shift towards Non-Profit and Co-op Housing: We need to move beyond our reliance on the private market to achieve real affordability.
- Scaling the Non-profit and Co-op Housing Sector: With the necessary investments behind it, the non-profit and co-op housing sector can realize its full potential by scaling up and building its capacity.
- Government Leadership, Coordination, and Accountability: To make real progress, Ontario must clarify the role and relationships between governments and their various ministries and mandates. This is necessary for non-profit and co-op housing providers, as well as other actors in the system to contribute to their fullest.
Key findings from Built for Good
Targets
1. Create 805,000 deeply affordable housing units for households with low incomes. This includes:
- 255,000 newly created units and 550,000 new portable housing benefits
- 97,000 supportive housing units
- 55,000 units for Indigenous households
2. Create 145,000 moderately affordable units for households with moderate incomes.
- includes 12,000 units for Indigenous households
3. Acquire, repair and maintain 225,000 units to prevent the further loss of affordable units. Includes:
- Acquisition of 80,000 naturally occurring affordable units
- Significant repair of 145,000 existing non-profit and co-op units
United Way East Ontario Interim President and CEO Dennise Taylor-Gilhen has been on the Leadership Table and guiding the work behind Built for Good alongside other Ontario United Ways CEOs.
Ottawa became the first city in Canada to declare a housing emergency in 2020. Since then, inflation, rising costs, and pandemic aftershocks like poor mental health and gender-based violence have only worsened the crisis that now extends across Ontario.
Rents are rising faster than wages. Families are being priced out of their neighbourhoods. Young people can’t afford to move out. This is our moment to turn things around and give people a fair shot at having a stable home.
- For a more detailed look at our housing report and plan, please read: Built for Good: Delivering the Housing Ontario Needs
- See the Ontario United Way Joint Submission to the Build Canada Homes Design.
