Building tomorrow’s communities today  

As housing affordability challenges continue to grow, Ontario’s community housing sector is a powerful force for innovation, resilience, and impact. Home to over 260,000 residents in more than 160,000 units – and representing more than half of Canada’s community housing stock – the sector is reshaping how we approach affordable housing.  

In ONPHA’s latest Opening Doors Podcast, hosts Marlene Coffey and Alex Armanious are joined by Keith Hambly (Chief Executive Officer, Fred Victor), Mwarigha (Vice President, WoodGreen Community Housing), and Adam Sweedland (Chief Executive Officer, CityHousing Hamilton) to unpack the post-election landscape and, consequently, how community housing providers are positioning for a stronger future.  

A sector ready to lead 

While election conversations often focused on middle-class homeownership, community housing leaders see this as an opportunity to reinforce their essential role across the housing continuum. As Hambly noted, focusing only on homeownership risks leaving behind those “living in the margins,” who are, precisely, the people that community housing serves best.  

Rather than being discouraged, the sector is, in fact, energized. With $38 billion in assets (more than many real estate investment trusts and private rental providers) Ontario’s community housing providers are uniquely positioned to lead. Furthermore, as legacy mortgages mature, the sector is unlocking new leverage to build the next generation of affordable homes.

Innovation at the heart  

The community housing sector isn’t just keeping up; it’s leading. For instance, community housing providers are embracing modern construction techniques that the private sector hesitates to adopt, like modular and panelized buildings. They are also integrating service models that connect housing with healthcare and social support.  

These aren’t new concepts for the sector. As Hambly noted, we’ve been doing it for decades: “We are innovators…bringing non-traditional partners together to [benefit] the communities we serve”. This collaborative, mission-driven mindset is, ultimately, what sets the community housing sector apart.  

Building, protecting, and supporting Ontario’s communities 

ONPHA’s three-pillar vision reflects the sector’s approach to addressing Ontario’s housing challenges:  

  • Build: Providers are increasingly taking on development roles to ensure housing meets real needs. As Mwarigha observed, when providers aren’t involved from the start, “we end up with cookie cutter designs that then make life more difficult for us to provide effective services.”  
  • Protect: As existing housing stock ages and climate risk increases, preservation is critical. Strategies like targeted housing acquisitions help keep units affordable and counter rental stock loss.  As Hambly said, it’s  “very inexpensive in the long-run way” to retain affordability.  
  • Support: Wraparound services is where community housing providers thrive. Stable housing leads to better health, reduced emergency service use, and significant cost savings for governments.  

Our collective voice 

Collaboration is the sector’s superpower. Shared procurement, capacity building, and leveraging economies of scale can strengthen operations and influence policy.  

The conversation also highlighted the importance of proactive sector engagement. As Sweedland noted, providers need to engage with local politicians and demonstrate how community housing aligns with broader priorities, from supporting Canadian lumber to creating employment opportunities.  

With every $10 invested in community housing saving $20 in other social costs, the economic benefits are undeniable.     

A bridge to tomorrow  

Community housing is the bridge between homelessness and homeownership. It provides stability that enables people to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities. The sector has long proven its value. The real question isn’t whether it can deliver, but rather, whether we’ll invest in scaling its proven, people-centered solutions.  

Listen to the full podcast to hear more about how community housing leaders are positioning the sector for success. Remember to leave us a review! 

Want to learn how Ontario’s community housing is shaping the future?

Join the conversation at the 2025 ONPHA Conference, where we are putting housing at heart of building stronger, and more inclusive communities.  

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