Posted On: May 30, 2026, Posted By: Debbie Schatia, NewmarketToday, Original Article.
Last month, I joined more than 600 housing leaders, frontline workers, researchers, government representatives and community thinkers from across Canada in St. John’s, Newfoundland, for the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association’s (CHRA) National Congress on Housing and Homelessness.
The three-day gathering was full of energy and urgent conversations. Individuals from across the country gathered to talk about one of the most urgent challenges facing communities today: how to ensure everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home.
While the Congress brought together individuals working in the housing system, the conversations are not just for professionals. They are relevant to families, seniors, workers, and youth in York Region. Housing is not just about buildings, it is about stability, health, and the kind of communities we want to live in.
What Is NonMarket Housing—and Why Should We Care?
Much of the focus at the Congress was on nonmarket housing. Nonmarket housing is housing that is not driven by profit-homes developed by nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, or governments, where affordability is protected over the long term. Unlike market housing, rents are not driven purely by profit or short-term market pressures. Rents remain affordable over the long term, not subject to spikes based on what the market can bear.
Across the country, we are seeing what happens when housing is treated only as a commodity. Even when new units are built, they often come with rents that grow out of reach for families, seniors, and people working essential jobs. Without nonmarket housing, affordability is fragile and temporary. Across Canada, including York Region, most new housing being built is priced well beyond what average households can afford. Even when rental supply increases, new units often enter the market at rents far higher than existing ones, putting pressure on families who are already stretched thin.
At the Congress, speaker after speaker emphasized the same point: we cannot “build our way out” of the housing crisis with market housing alone. Without a strong nonmarket housing sector, affordability is temporary, unpredictable, and vulnerable to economic shifts.
Rising rents and limited availability are forcing difficult choices for many households, sometimes between housing, food, transportation, or childcare. Nonmarket housing provides stability for people who otherwise might not be able to stay in the communities they contribute to every day.
Preserving What We Already Have
Another key insight was that building new housing is only part of the solution. Across Canada, affordable rental homes are disappearing faster than they’re being replaced.
For every new affordable unit built, many more are lost to rising rents, redevelopment, shifts to condominiums or financial pressures. That is why there is growing momentum behind housing acquisition, buying existing rental buildings and protecting them as long-term affordable housing. This approach can be faster, more costeffective, and less disruptive for tenants. Residents stay in their homes, and affordability is preserved rather than rebuilt from scratch.
Programs like rental protection funds and multi-unit acquisition initiatives demonstrate that affordable rents can be maintained when communities commit to it. These models offer lessons that could be applied more broadly, including here in Ontario.
Land, Innovation, and Long-Term Vision
Access to land is another critical piece. Researchers shared how mapping underused public land and making that information transparent can unlock opportunities for non-market housing near transit, schools, and services. When land is publicly owned, it can be used for public good. Innovation also matters. From modular construction to new financing models, the Congress highlighted ways housing can be delivered more efficiently and sustainably without compromising quality or community. Innovation thrives when paired with a clear vision: housing as long-term infrastructure, not a short-term project.
Bringing the National Picture Home to York Region
Here in York Region, housing affordability is already a challenge for many residents. Subsidized and nonprofit housing plays a quiet but essential role in supporting seniors on fixed incomes, working families, newcomers, and people with disabilities. These homes allow people to stay rooted in their communities—close to schools, jobs, caregivers, and support networks. Yet, the demand for affordable homes far outpaces supply. Waitlists for subsidized housing keep affordable housing options out of reach, and rising rents make it increasingly difficult for moderateincome households to find stability. What I heard repeatedly at the Congress is that regions like ours are not alone—these pressures are being felt coast to coast.
One of the most powerful takeaways was the reminder that nonmarket housing is not a one-off solution. It is infrastructure, just like roads, hospitals, and schools. Communities with a healthy supply of nonmarket housing are more economically resilient, healthier, and better able to weather change.
Housing Is also a Health, Economic, and Community Issue
Another strong theme at the Congress was the connection between housing and health. When people live in stable, affordable homes, they experience better physical and mental health outcomes, children do better in school, and emergency services are used less frequently. Housing, quite simply, is preventative care and saves expensive tax payer funded resources. This connection resonated deeply because it reframes housing as something that benefits everyone, not just those who directly live in nonmarket homes. When housing works, communities work better.
Looking Ahead
As I left St. John’s, one message stayed with me: housing solutions are possible when communities choose to act together. The ideas, partnerships, and innovations shared at the CHRA Congress were inspiring, but their real value will be measured by what we do with them at home here in York Region, the choices we make now—about land, investment, and priorities—will shape our communities for decades to come. Nonmarket housing may not always make headlines, but it quietly forms the foundation of inclusive, thriving neighbourhoods, something we all care about.
From Awareness to Action
There is possibility. Solutions exist.
Communities across Canada are finding ways to protect affordability, when there is the will to do so. Supporting nonmarket housing is not about choosing one group over another; it’s about recognizing that strong communities depend on a mix of housing options.
Teachers, personal support workers, retail employees, seniors, and young adults all contribute to the life of our region. When they can afford to live here, everyone benefits. It also means paying attention to housing discussions at the municipal and regional level, asking questions, and supporting initiatives that protect longterm affordability. Nonmarket housing does not happen by accident, it exists because communities decide it matters.
As residents, we all have a role to play:
- Staying informed about housing decisions in our communities
- Supporting initiatives that protect longterm affordability
- Recognizing housing as essential community infrastructure
The conversations that started at a national congress do not end there. They come home with us, and how we act on them will shape York Region for generations to come.