Toronto’s housing system is at a breaking point. With home prices now nine times median income and purpose-built rental development stalled, we are losing fifteen older affordable units for every one new home built. Two-thirds of the GTHA workforce spend more than 30% of their income on housing. A strain that threatens families, employers, and Ontario’s economic future. To shift from crisis to construction, we must rethink how affordable housing is financed. In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy sits down with Mwarigha, Vice President of Housing Growth, Development & Asset Sustainability at WoodGreen Community Services to explore the concept of the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, a province-wide, Ontario-backed investment vehicle designed to unlock upfront capital and bring institutional investment back into affordable rental development. Developed in partnership with BILDGTA, FRPO, ONPHA and Arcadis, AHIF has the potential to de-risk projects, accelerate approvals, and support the creation of high-quality mixed-income, sustainable communities across Ontario, so that we can build a housing system that works for everyone.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we sit down with Dr. Nick Falvo, researcher, policy expert, and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal on Homelessness. Drawing from more than a decade of frontline experience, Nick offers a grounded look at what Canada can realistically achieve right now: from defining meaningful short-term goals and strengthening supportive housing, to improving federal funding models and ensuring smaller communities aren’t left behind. He also highlights non-profit innovation and shares what we’re doing right which gives him hope for the future of housing and homelessness in Canada.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.