A new report from United Way Greater Toronto and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, titled Built for Good, presents a “costed, delivery-ready” plan to improve Ontario’s housing system by scaling up non-profit and co-operative housing. The report underscores the urgent need to support nearly 400,000 low- and modest-income households by 2030, while also preventing the loss of more than 55,000 affordable homes currently at risk.

“Ontario’s protracted housing crisis continues to rob our communities of potential and prosperity, and we’ve identified a new roadmap for getting out of this,” said Heather McDonald, President and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto. “Built for Good opens the door to opportunities for real progress by focusing on non-profit partners and the right investment, so we can build and protect the deeply affordable homes people need. This benefits all Ontarians, no matter where they find themselves on the housing continuum.”

According to the report, those at risk of homelessness are facing increasingly desperate circumstances, with fewer pathways to permanent housing. At the same time, Indigenous and other structurally disadvantaged communities are grappling with a higher prevalence of housing need, compounded by systemic barriers that make access even more difficult.

“Ontario’s housing crisis demands bold, proven solutions,” said Tim Ross, CEO, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Ontario Region. “The co-op housing sector is ready and able to deliver affordable homes that strengthen communities. With an existing pipeline of co-op projects across the province, we can build quickly, create good construction jobs, and ensure public dollars result in homes that stay affordable for generations. The Built for Good report lays out both the need and a clear path to deliver more homes that meaningfully address the housing crisis.”

The plan calls for a shift from short-term crisis spending to long-term, sustainable solutions, anchored by a $16.7 billion investment by 2027. Informed by data analysis, research, and stakeholder input, it builds on current national initiatives that recognize the role of non-profit and co-operative housing providers in addressing housing challenges.

The Plan’s Three Targets

• Target 1: Deliver 805,000 deeply affordable homes. This includes 255,000 newly built non-profit and co-operative housing units, with 93,000 designated as supportive housing and at least 55,000 off-reserve homes developed by and for Indigenous households. An additional 550,000 units will be supported through portable housing benefits to help low-income households afford homes in the private rental market.
• Target 2: Create 145,000 moderately affordable homes. These homes are intended for middle-income households underserved by the private market. At least 12,000 units will be developed specifically for Indigenous households, addressing a critical gap in supply.
• Target 3: Preserve and improve 225,000 existing affordable homes. This includes acquiring 80,000 naturally affordable units from the private market to be maintained by non-profit and co-op providers, and repairing or upgrading 145,000 existing non-profit, co-op, and affordable housing units to ensure they remain safe, livable, and accessible.

The plan goes on to identify key system needed to achieve these targets, including: reducing reliance on market forces through targeted investments in deeply affordable non-profit, co-operative, and other housing initiatives; supporting measures that strengthen and expand the non-profit and co-operative housing sector; and providing clear leadership and accountability, complemented by coordinated resources and structured collaboration across all levels of government.

“By shifting from crisis response to proactive, long-term, and predictable investment, we can begin to change the trajectory — not just of Ontario’s housing system, but of the lives and communities it serves,” the report concludes.

For the full report, click here: Built for Good: Delivering the Housing Ontario Needs – United Way Greater Toronto