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
Is home ownership still the dream, or is it time to rethink secure housing?
Join UBC experts, featuring BSH Director Dr. Alexandra Flynn, Paul Kershaw & Jack Favilukis for a webinar on affordability & what housing stability could look like beyond ownership.
Oct 7, 12 PM PT
Register buff.ly/3gpBPRK
Join UBC experts, featuring BSH Director Dr. Alexandra Flynn, Paul Kershaw & Jack Favilukis for a webinar on affordability & what housing stability could look like beyond ownership.
Oct 7, 12 PM PT
Register buff.ly/3gpBPRK
Home ownership: Is it still the dream?
While many middle-income Canadians achieved the dream of home ownership in previous decades, that vision seems increasingly elusive for younger generations and newcomers today. In this virtual…
bsh.ubc.ca
September 11, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Is home ownership still the dream, or is it time to rethink secure housing?
Join UBC experts, featuring BSH Director Dr. Alexandra Flynn, Paul Kershaw & Jack Favilukis for a webinar on affordability & what housing stability could look like beyond ownership.
Oct 7, 12 PM PT
Register buff.ly/3gpBPRK
Join UBC experts, featuring BSH Director Dr. Alexandra Flynn, Paul Kershaw & Jack Favilukis for a webinar on affordability & what housing stability could look like beyond ownership.
Oct 7, 12 PM PT
Register buff.ly/3gpBPRK
The CLT summit is just around the corner!
Join us in Ottawa later this month where we'll put the right to housing centre stage with Drs. Alexandra Flynn, @cwhitzman.bsky.social & @housinglogement.bsky.social as they discuss Canada’s next NHS.
Grab your ticket before it sells out!
buff.ly/1uoKuDm
Join us in Ottawa later this month where we'll put the right to housing centre stage with Drs. Alexandra Flynn, @cwhitzman.bsky.social & @housinglogement.bsky.social as they discuss Canada’s next NHS.
Grab your ticket before it sells out!
buff.ly/1uoKuDm
September 4, 2026 at 9:47 PM
The CLT summit is just around the corner!
Join us in Ottawa later this month where we'll put the right to housing centre stage with Drs. Alexandra Flynn, @cwhitzman.bsky.social & @housinglogement.bsky.social as they discuss Canada’s next NHS.
Grab your ticket before it sells out!
buff.ly/1uoKuDm
Join us in Ottawa later this month where we'll put the right to housing centre stage with Drs. Alexandra Flynn, @cwhitzman.bsky.social & @housinglogement.bsky.social as they discuss Canada’s next NHS.
Grab your ticket before it sells out!
buff.ly/1uoKuDm
The Limited Dividend program has helped deliver more than 100,000 low- & moderate-income rental homes, but BSH researchers have found a darker legacy: it actually provides a blueprint for the financialization of housing.
📘 Read the article: buff.ly/e9dK3Qs
🧑💻 Read the BSH blog buff.ly/hAXPGFX
📘 Read the article: buff.ly/e9dK3Qs
🧑💻 Read the BSH blog buff.ly/hAXPGFX
August 28, 2026 at 3:15 PM
The Limited Dividend program has helped deliver more than 100,000 low- & moderate-income rental homes, but BSH researchers have found a darker legacy: it actually provides a blueprint for the financialization of housing.
📘 Read the article: buff.ly/e9dK3Qs
🧑💻 Read the BSH blog buff.ly/hAXPGFX
📘 Read the article: buff.ly/e9dK3Qs
🧑💻 Read the BSH blog buff.ly/hAXPGFX
“We found absolute, iron-clad evidence that short-term rental (STR) regulations put downward pressure on rent. Lots of things cause housing to be expensive, but this is low-hanging fruit to manage those costs.” —David Wachsmuth
📰 buff.ly/WQoaB1M
Visit buff.ly/CU6LrU2 for more BSH research on STRs.
📰 buff.ly/WQoaB1M
Visit buff.ly/CU6LrU2 for more BSH research on STRs.
McGill study demonstrates that restricting short-term rentals improves housing affordability
Municipal regulation of short-term rentals “is low-hanging fruit” that helps improve housing affordability, a new study by McGill researchers suggests. The study found that rents were relatively…
www.mcgill.ca
August 27, 2026 at 6:07 PM
“We found absolute, iron-clad evidence that short-term rental (STR) regulations put downward pressure on rent. Lots of things cause housing to be expensive, but this is low-hanging fruit to manage those costs.” —David Wachsmuth
📰 buff.ly/WQoaB1M
Visit buff.ly/CU6LrU2 for more BSH research on STRs.
📰 buff.ly/WQoaB1M
Visit buff.ly/CU6LrU2 for more BSH research on STRs.
With Canada facing a critical shortage of #affordablehomes, vacancy taxes offer a promising solution.
Our latest blog explores policies from British Columbia, Vancouver, & Toronto that discourage speculation and return empty homes to the rental market.
➡️ Read more: buff.ly/sE24NLe
Our latest blog explores policies from British Columbia, Vancouver, & Toronto that discourage speculation and return empty homes to the rental market.
➡️ Read more: buff.ly/sE24NLe
August 19, 2026 at 9:47 PM
With Canada facing a critical shortage of #affordablehomes, vacancy taxes offer a promising solution.
Our latest blog explores policies from British Columbia, Vancouver, & Toronto that discourage speculation and return empty homes to the rental market.
➡️ Read more: buff.ly/sE24NLe
Our latest blog explores policies from British Columbia, Vancouver, & Toronto that discourage speculation and return empty homes to the rental market.
➡️ Read more: buff.ly/sE24NLe
📣 Vancouver #housing sector!
Join us for the mayoral debate event you don't want to miss this municipal election. On Sept. 8, Alex Flynn & Tom Davidoff will moderate a conversation on all things housing at UBC Robson Square.
Doors 5:30 PM
Register for free: buff.ly/aJGgWnO
Details: buff.ly/2DFhG0g
Join us for the mayoral debate event you don't want to miss this municipal election. On Sept. 8, Alex Flynn & Tom Davidoff will moderate a conversation on all things housing at UBC Robson Square.
Doors 5:30 PM
Register for free: buff.ly/aJGgWnO
Details: buff.ly/2DFhG0g
August 18, 2026 at 6:02 PM
📣 Vancouver #housing sector!
Join us for the mayoral debate event you don't want to miss this municipal election. On Sept. 8, Alex Flynn & Tom Davidoff will moderate a conversation on all things housing at UBC Robson Square.
Doors 5:30 PM
Register for free: buff.ly/aJGgWnO
Details: buff.ly/2DFhG0g
Join us for the mayoral debate event you don't want to miss this municipal election. On Sept. 8, Alex Flynn & Tom Davidoff will moderate a conversation on all things housing at UBC Robson Square.
Doors 5:30 PM
Register for free: buff.ly/aJGgWnO
Details: buff.ly/2DFhG0g
When National Occupancy Standards are treated as rigid rules instead of guidelines, the families most in need often pay the highest price. Read our newest blog to see how the National Occupancy Standards are shaping access to housing in ways they were never intended to. Read more: buff.ly/FSahiJh
August 12, 2026 at 8:06 PM
When National Occupancy Standards are treated as rigid rules instead of guidelines, the families most in need often pay the highest price. Read our newest blog to see how the National Occupancy Standards are shaping access to housing in ways they were never intended to. Read more: buff.ly/FSahiJh
For over a century, a handful of Chinatown associations have quietly run one of Toronto's most effective & overlooked affordable housing systems. A new BSH report from TCLT shows how they've sheltered low-income tenants for generations, and why that system is now at risk. Read more: buff.ly/5Y0sEXe
The Landlords that History Forgot: Inside Toronto Chinatown's Affordable Housing System
For over a century, a handful of family and district associations most people have probably never heard of have quietly run one of Toronto's most effective, and most overlooked, affordable housing…
bsh.ubc.ca
August 7, 2026 at 4:31 PM
For over a century, a handful of Chinatown associations have quietly run one of Toronto's most effective & overlooked affordable housing systems. A new BSH report from TCLT shows how they've sheltered low-income tenants for generations, and why that system is now at risk. Read more: buff.ly/5Y0sEXe
"Despite zoning and land use changes to allow multiplexes and small apartment buildings in more places, the reality is that such designs are not yet living up to their architectural potential." Read the latest by BSH researcher Conrad Speckert on the argument for single-stair zoning: buff.ly/eXolLok
Bridging the gap between houses and high-rises - Spacing Toronto
Many of us want more sustainable, safe, affordable and accessible homes. Despite zoning and land use changes to allow multiplexes and small apartment buildings in more places, the reality is that…
spacing.ca
August 5, 2026 at 10:16 PM
"Despite zoning and land use changes to allow multiplexes and small apartment buildings in more places, the reality is that such designs are not yet living up to their architectural potential." Read the latest by BSH researcher Conrad Speckert on the argument for single-stair zoning: buff.ly/eXolLok
400 DTES tenants are now at risk of #displacement as deeply affordable SRO hotels get bought up and emptied out, with more buildings headed into foreclosure. The SRO Collaborative and DTES CLT are speaking out today, 2pm at Gore and Union. If you're in Vancouver, show up and stand with community.
July 28, 2026 at 6:59 PM
400 DTES tenants are now at risk of #displacement as deeply affordable SRO hotels get bought up and emptied out, with more buildings headed into foreclosure. The SRO Collaborative and DTES CLT are speaking out today, 2pm at Gore and Union. If you're in Vancouver, show up and stand with community.
Canadians' right to adequate housing is enshrined in the NHS Act, but 1.4M households are in core housing need, homelessness is up sharply since 2018 & no-fault evictions remain a top driver of housing instability.
Our recent HUMA brief outlines key recommendations to rebalance the system:
Our recent HUMA brief outlines key recommendations to rebalance the system:
July 27, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Canadians' right to adequate housing is enshrined in the NHS Act, but 1.4M households are in core housing need, homelessness is up sharply since 2018 & no-fault evictions remain a top driver of housing instability.
Our recent HUMA brief outlines key recommendations to rebalance the system:
Our recent HUMA brief outlines key recommendations to rebalance the system:
New podcast alert! This fantastic conversation with TCLT's Chiyi Tam deserves a spot on your queue this week.
The episode highlights forthcoming BSH research that identifies existing affordable housing stock in Toronto's Chinatown that are vulnerable to speculation and eviction threats.
The episode highlights forthcoming BSH research that identifies existing affordable housing stock in Toronto's Chinatown that are vulnerable to speculation and eviction threats.
Don’t miss our new episode with Chiyi Tam of Toronto Chinatown Land Trust.
Chiyi shares stories of how, in the face of intense displacement pressures, CLT's can bring communities together to protect homes & cultural spaces.
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/f...
Chiyi shares stories of how, in the face of intense displacement pressures, CLT's can bring communities together to protect homes & cultural spaces.
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/f...
From Tongs to Trusts: Mutual Aid in Toronto's Chinatown
Podcast Episode · New Housing Alternatives · July 17 · 33m
podcasts.apple.com
July 21, 2026 at 11:18 PM
New podcast alert! This fantastic conversation with TCLT's Chiyi Tam deserves a spot on your queue this week.
The episode highlights forthcoming BSH research that identifies existing affordable housing stock in Toronto's Chinatown that are vulnerable to speculation and eviction threats.
The episode highlights forthcoming BSH research that identifies existing affordable housing stock in Toronto's Chinatown that are vulnerable to speculation and eviction threats.
New #socialhousing report authored by @bshnode.bsky.social's Alina McKay & Ella Barrett, generously funded by @newhousingalt.bsky.social, finds that supportive housing lacks a consistent legal framework across Canada (only BC comes close), fuelling funding silos & unclear tenant rights.
Read more ⬇️
Read more ⬇️
Supportive housing providers face a patchwork of overlapping and inconsistent regulatory frameworks across Canada.
Out today! Our new report explores the challenges this poses for those working to end homelessness, proposing clear solutions. 🧵👇
newhousingalternatives.ca/defining-sup...
Out today! Our new report explores the challenges this poses for those working to end homelessness, proposing clear solutions. 🧵👇
newhousingalternatives.ca/defining-sup...
July 13, 2026 at 5:18 PM
New #socialhousing report authored by @bshnode.bsky.social's Alina McKay & Ella Barrett, generously funded by @newhousingalt.bsky.social, finds that supportive housing lacks a consistent legal framework across Canada (only BC comes close), fuelling funding silos & unclear tenant rights.
Read more ⬇️
Read more ⬇️
HRC's latest newsletter is out! Click to learn more about
@ubchart.bsky.social and @bshnode.bsky.social's latest tools, research, events, and more.
preview.mailerlite.io/preview/9909...
@ubchart.bsky.social and @bshnode.bsky.social's latest tools, research, events, and more.
preview.mailerlite.io/preview/9909...
Summer News from UBC's Housing Research Collaborative
preview.mailerlite.io
July 8, 2026 at 7:13 PM
HRC's latest newsletter is out! Click to learn more about
@ubchart.bsky.social and @bshnode.bsky.social's latest tools, research, events, and more.
preview.mailerlite.io/preview/9909...
@ubchart.bsky.social and @bshnode.bsky.social's latest tools, research, events, and more.
preview.mailerlite.io/preview/9909...
New book from Dr. Alexandra Flynn & Dr. Joe Hermer, The Bylaw State, examines how municipal bylaws have become the main tool cities use to govern homelessness. Too often, these laws exclude people experiencing homelessness from public space.
Read our reflections on the BSH blog:
Read our reflections on the BSH blog:
The Bylaw State: How Small Rules Shape Big Injustices
The Bylaw State: Encampment Evictions and the Struggle for Public Space explores how municipal bylaws have become a primary tool for governing homelessness and the legal challenges reshaping access…
buff.ly
July 7, 2026 at 9:47 PM
New book from Dr. Alexandra Flynn & Dr. Joe Hermer, The Bylaw State, examines how municipal bylaws have become the main tool cities use to govern homelessness. Too often, these laws exclude people experiencing homelessness from public space.
Read our reflections on the BSH blog:
Read our reflections on the BSH blog:
👏 Applauding @villedemontreal.montreal.ca's recent investment in the city's rental assistance program: interest-free loans of up to $5K to help an additional ~150 households stay housed ahead of July 1 moving day, managed by Maison du Père.
📰 Montreal's new program in the news: buff.ly/3Y6WAjk
📰 Montreal's new program in the news: buff.ly/3Y6WAjk
Montreal boosts rent assistance program ahead of July 1 moving day
With Quebec’s annual July 1 moving day approaching, the City of Montreal is investing an additional $742,500 to expand its rent assistance bank, with the goal of helping more tenants avoid losing…
montreal.citynews.ca
July 3, 2026 at 3:15 PM
👏 Applauding @villedemontreal.montreal.ca's recent investment in the city's rental assistance program: interest-free loans of up to $5K to help an additional ~150 households stay housed ahead of July 1 moving day, managed by Maison du Père.
📰 Montreal's new program in the news: buff.ly/3Y6WAjk
📰 Montreal's new program in the news: buff.ly/3Y6WAjk
The federal and BC governments’ plan to convert more than 2,200 vacant condos into #affordablehousing has raised critical questions. Who will these homes serve, how long will affordability last, and what does this mean for non-market housing investment?
Read our blog for more: buff.ly/JR7otdD
Read our blog for more: buff.ly/JR7otdD
June 30, 2026 at 8:11 PM
The federal and BC governments’ plan to convert more than 2,200 vacant condos into #affordablehousing has raised critical questions. Who will these homes serve, how long will affordability last, and what does this mean for non-market housing investment?
Read our blog for more: buff.ly/JR7otdD
Read our blog for more: buff.ly/JR7otdD
This week, the National Housing Council is reading through hearing submissions on the lack of accessible housing in Canada. The final question they're trying to answer: what system-wide gaps, and what government actions and inactions, are getting in the way of progress?
June 26, 2026 at 10:30 PM
This week, the National Housing Council is reading through hearing submissions on the lack of accessible housing in Canada. The final question they're trying to answer: what system-wide gaps, and what government actions and inactions, are getting in the way of progress?
As the National Housing Council reviews written submissions on the lack of #accessible #housing this week, they're asking, what's needed to advance the right to accessible housing?
Our research points to 3 key actions:
⚖️ Legal Protections
💰 Income Supports
🏠 Accessible Housing Supply
Our research points to 3 key actions:
⚖️ Legal Protections
💰 Income Supports
🏠 Accessible Housing Supply
June 24, 2026 at 6:03 PM
As the National Housing Council reviews written submissions on the lack of #accessible #housing this week, they're asking, what's needed to advance the right to accessible housing?
Our research points to 3 key actions:
⚖️ Legal Protections
💰 Income Supports
🏠 Accessible Housing Supply
Our research points to 3 key actions:
⚖️ Legal Protections
💰 Income Supports
🏠 Accessible Housing Supply
Last week, we submitted a brief to HUMA as it undertakes a study of homelessness in Canada. Only one argument matters: homelessness is solvable, but only if governments invest at the scale the crisis demands, and only if they build the right kind of housing.
Read our blog for more: buff.ly/Fd978ug
Read our blog for more: buff.ly/Fd978ug
June 23, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Last week, we submitted a brief to HUMA as it undertakes a study of homelessness in Canada. Only one argument matters: homelessness is solvable, but only if governments invest at the scale the crisis demands, and only if they build the right kind of housing.
Read our blog for more: buff.ly/Fd978ug
Read our blog for more: buff.ly/Fd978ug
Today's the deadline for written submissions to the Neha review panel on the lack of accessible housing in Canada, and our latest research has answers to their questions.
Let's start with key effects.
For more, read the full report: buff.ly/GpR3koY or the blog with key takeaways: buff.ly/xj13CBL
Let's start with key effects.
For more, read the full report: buff.ly/GpR3koY or the blog with key takeaways: buff.ly/xj13CBL
June 22, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Today's the deadline for written submissions to the Neha review panel on the lack of accessible housing in Canada, and our latest research has answers to their questions.
Let's start with key effects.
For more, read the full report: buff.ly/GpR3koY or the blog with key takeaways: buff.ly/xj13CBL
Let's start with key effects.
For more, read the full report: buff.ly/GpR3koY or the blog with key takeaways: buff.ly/xj13CBL
Over 8M Canadians live with a disability, yet accessible housing remains scarce. New research from BSH finds widespread discrimination, inaccessible housing & weak enforcement of housing rights that leave many without safe, affordable homes.
➡️ Read more on our blog: buff.ly/SgLowPg
➡️ Read more on our blog: buff.ly/SgLowPg
Locked Out: How Canada's Housing System is Failing People with Disabilities
New research from Drs. Colin Phillips and Alina McKay documents discrimination, inaccessibility, and a vicious cycle of under-enforcement that leaves people with disabilities without safe, affordable…
bsh.ubc.ca
June 16, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Over 8M Canadians live with a disability, yet accessible housing remains scarce. New research from BSH finds widespread discrimination, inaccessible housing & weak enforcement of housing rights that leave many without safe, affordable homes.
➡️ Read more on our blog: buff.ly/SgLowPg
➡️ Read more on our blog: buff.ly/SgLowPg
Seńáḵw's feature in today's @nytopinion.nytimes.com isn't just a story about Vancouver's innovative approach to land use, it's about who is leading the charge. First Nations developments are challenging decades of exclusionary #zoning by building what communities actually need.
📰 buff.ly/k6wtN0B
📰 buff.ly/k6wtN0B
Opinion | One City Might Have Just Cracked the Housing Crisis
A large real estate development in the middle of Vancouver, British Columbia shows cities can build...
www.nytimes.com
June 15, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Seńáḵw's feature in today's @nytopinion.nytimes.com isn't just a story about Vancouver's innovative approach to land use, it's about who is leading the charge. First Nations developments are challenging decades of exclusionary #zoning by building what communities actually need.
📰 buff.ly/k6wtN0B
📰 buff.ly/k6wtN0B
In Toronto later this month? Catch BSH and HRC Director, Dr. Alexandra Flynn in the "Where Must We Go From Here?" session at @canurb.bsky.social's Housing Future Summit on June 22nd.
➡️ Learn more about the summit at: buff.ly/lh99ZRn
➡️ Learn more about the summit at: buff.ly/lh99ZRn
June 11, 2026 at 6:05 PM
In Toronto later this month? Catch BSH and HRC Director, Dr. Alexandra Flynn in the "Where Must We Go From Here?" session at @canurb.bsky.social's Housing Future Summit on June 22nd.
➡️ Learn more about the summit at: buff.ly/lh99ZRn
➡️ Learn more about the summit at: buff.ly/lh99ZRn
1/4 This week, we co-hosted the BC premiere of Thinking Beyond the Market, a documentary on genuinely #affordablehousing. The key takeaway? Solutions to the #housingcrisis are hiding in plain sight, right here in Canada.
🧑💻 Read our reflections in the latest blog: buff.ly/7GL0yKH
🧑💻 Read our reflections in the latest blog: buff.ly/7GL0yKH
Thinking Beyond the Market: A Community Conversation on Genuinely Affordable Housing
Documentary film, Thinking Beyond the Market, showcases why the private housing market has failed to deliver affordability for many Canadians and highlights practical alternatives already working…
buff.ly
June 4, 2026 at 6:03 PM
1/4 This week, we co-hosted the BC premiere of Thinking Beyond the Market, a documentary on genuinely #affordablehousing. The key takeaway? Solutions to the #housingcrisis are hiding in plain sight, right here in Canada.
🧑💻 Read our reflections in the latest blog: buff.ly/7GL0yKH
🧑💻 Read our reflections in the latest blog: buff.ly/7GL0yKH