New Housing Alternatives

The case for a wealth tax is stronger than ever in Canada - CCPA An excerpt from “Cancelling Billionaires Before They Cancel Us: The Urgent Case for a Wealth Tax” by Linda McQuaig & Neil Brooks

The issue of wealth inequality is one of the most pressing social and economic problems of our time. States must take action to rein in the power of billionaires—and one key tool for doing so would be a wealth tax. By @lindamcquaig.bsky.social + Neil Brooks.
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

AGI = Above-guideline rent increases! Sorry for the confusion!

But, if you are interested in understanding how landlords are using AI models to set rents and screen tenants, the NHA podcast's most recent episode (ft Dr Nemoy Lewis) dives into that discussion.

The Overhead: Rent Control and Rent Hikes Podcast Episode · Spacing Radio · February 27 · 59m

Great @spacingradio.bsky.social episode on strengthening rent controls.

NHAs' Drs. August & Mah explore:
- The loopholes allowing more & more units to go unregulated
- The📈use & abuse of AGIs by large landlords
- The power of organized tenants to stop rent hikes

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...

Racialized Evictions and AI in the Rental Housing System Podcast Episode · New Housing Alternatives · February 21 · 30m

Out now, episode 5 with Dr Nemoy Lewis!

We explore why Toronto's black-majority neighbourhoods face eviction rates up to 7X’s higher than average.

We discuss the role of large financial landlords, transit investments, & weak tenant protections.

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/r...

Out today! Episode 4 of NHAs' podcast talks about the history of tenant rights & tenant organizing in Canada with CCPAs' Ricardo Tranjan.

We also discuss the growing influence of corporate landlords and strategies for building power through tenant unions & advocacy.

share.transistor.fm/s/e050b932

FINANCIALIZED VIOLENCE IN TORONTO’S RENTAL MARKET: Eviction Rates in Majority Black Renter Communities While the geographical distribution of eviction filings has been explored in Toronto, the intersection of rental housing financialization, race and eviction remains underexplored. Financial actors an...

New paper explores what's causing the evictions crisis in racialized communities.

Eviction filing rates were found to be far higher in Toronto's Black-majority neighbourhoods, where corporate landlords dominate the rental market - reaching 36% in some areas.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Preventing the Rapid Loss of Affordable Housing: The NHA podcast speaks with Steve Pomeroy about how to protect Canada’s endangered Low-rent Homes In this month’s episode of the New Housing Alternatives podcast, hosts Cherise Burda and Ren Thomas speak with housing policy expert Steve Pomeroy. Pomeroy’s research has made headlines, highlighting an alarming finding. For every one unit of affordable housing built across Canada, 11 are lost, with even higher ratios in cities like Ottawa and Waterloo. We discuss the scale and scope of this rapid loss and what can be done to stop it. 

Preventing the Rapid Loss of Affordable Housing: The NHA podcast speaks with Steve Pomeroy about how to protect Canada’s endangered Low-rent Homes

In this month’s episode of the New Housing Alternatives podcast, hosts Cherise Burda and Ren Thomas speak with housing policy expert Steve Pomeroy.…

Preserving Low‑Rent Housing Podcast Episode · New Housing Alternatives · 2025-12-19 · 25m

Today, NHAs' podcast speaks with Steve Pomeroy about the rapid loss of low-rent housing.

Across Canada, 11 affordable homes are lost for every 1 built.

We talk about what communities and gov’s are doing to protect these much-needed homes, & what more can be done.
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/p...

The City of Toronto is ramping up support for non-profit development.

Last month, Park­dale Neigh­bour­hood Land Trust was selected to develop a 175­ unit rent-controlled apartment.

"We're say­ing yes to devel­op­ment, but it needs to meet community needs” -PNLT
www.pressreader.com/canada/toron...

NHA Podcast Episode 2: Non-Profit Housing Solutions This week, we're excited to share the 2nd episode of the New Housing Alternatives podcast, in which hosts Cherise Berda and Ren Thomas are joined by Jill Atkey, CEO of the BC NonProfit Housing Association (BCNPHA). We talk about the impressive growth of the movement for community-owned housing in British Columbia — the result of decades of organizing between non-profit, co-op & indigenous-led housing organizations.

NHA Podcast Episode 2: Non-Profit Housing Solutions

This week, we're excited to share the 2nd episode of the New Housing Alternatives podcast, in which hosts Cherise Berda and Ren Thomas are joined by Jill Atkey, CEO of the BC NonProfit Housing Association (BCNPHA). We talk about the impressive…

6) Tribunals Ontario to explore options to increase access to LTB decision orders.

There is concern that, if personal information becomes publicly accessible, tenant screening services could use it to place tenants on blacklists, affecting their ability to access housing.

5) Removing the discretion of an LTB adjudicator to postpone the enforcement of an eviction order.

This will restrict the grounds on which adjudicators can determine if evictions are unfair, and whether there are reasonable alternative courses of action.

4) Eliminating the requirement that landlords who file no-fault ("own use") evictions provide tenants 1-month compensation, if a 4-month notice is provided.

This will make it easier for bad actors to execute bad-faith evictions & make evicted tenants more financially vulnerable.

3) Reducing the time available for tenants to appeal LTB decisions from 30- to 15-days.

Tenants already find it challenging to obtain assistance from legal aid clinics in 30-days. Cutting the time tenants have to secure legal help will exacerbate an already difficult situation.

2) Preventing tenants from raising new issues (such as health concerns or landlord harassment) at LTB rent arrears hearings, unless they pay 50% of arrears.

This hampers the ability to protest unfair rent hikes, creating a pay-to-access legal system, at a price set by landlords.

1) Reducing rent arrears notice periods in half, from 14 days to 7 days.

Tenants will have just 7 days to find funds to pay their arrears before an eviction is filed. This undermines the ability of social services or rent bank programs to support tenants & prevent homelessness.

Yesterday, Bill 60 passed, rolling back many tenant protections.

NHAs' new analysis focuses on 6 major changes under Bill 60.

It explores how each will erode tenant protections & further fuel Ontario's homelessness crisis. 🧵👇

newhousingalternatives.ca/ontarios-bil...

Tomorrow, Nov. 22, marks the 25th anniversary of National Housing Day, a day to stand up for housing as a human right and recommit to ensuring everyone has a safe, secure and affordable place to call home. Read our reflection on the wins, misses and what’s next for housing in Canada: buff.ly/FCPramy

Nonprofit Housing Solutions Podcast Episode · New Housing Alternatives · 2025-11-21 · 25m

Out today! NHAs' new podcast's 2nd episode, ft. Jill Atkey (CEO of BCNPHA)

We talk recent wins in the movement for non-profit & co-op housing in BC, like the Rental Protection Fund.

And we ask why these community-led models may be preferable to gov't ownership.
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/n...

Tomorrow, check out the 2nd episode of our new NHA podcast!

This month our guest is Jill Atkey, CEO of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association.

We explore the impressive growth of non-profit housing in British Columbia and ask what other provinces can learn from the BC experience.

A concise overview of budget 2025.

“The new Build Canada Homes program…[is] more of a pilot program than a generational investment. The 4k homes to be started under BCH next year is small potatoes relative to needs."

3/4's of the headline housing investment "is a carryover from previous budgets."

True to This, Not New to This – Community-Led Housing Roots Explore the deep roots of community-led housing through Black land stewardship, mutual aid, and freedom-making traditions in this free webinar.

Our first HCRC webinar is next week!
True to This, Not New to This explores the deep roots of community-led housing through land stewardship, mutual aid, and freedom-making.
RSVP: housingcommonsresearch.ca/webinars/com...

#CommunityLedHousing #LandStewardship #MutualAid #HousingJustice

Federal budget falls short on housing affordability, experts say Academics and builders’ associations say the Liberal government has watered down its election pledges

“It very well could be a good start, but my concern is that it’s not going to scale up fast enough. The fiscal commitment is pretty weak … it’s not what I would think of as a generational investment," says CCPA senior economist
@marclee.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/pe...
.

NHA joins 134 organizations across Ontario in demanding that #Bill60 — what we call the "Create Encampments Faster Act" — is repealed.

Read this co-signed to Premier Ford and demand action from Ford and Ontario's municipalities to protect renters:
t.co/jZkLyUisb0

6) Tribunals Ontario to explore options to increase access to LTB decision orders.

There is concern that, if personal information becomes publicly accessible, tenant screening services could use it to place tenants on blacklists, affecting their ability to access housing.

5) Removing the discretion of an LTB adjudicator to postpone the enforcement of an eviction order.

This will restrict the grounds on which adjudicators can determine if evictions are unfair, and whether there are reasonable alternative courses of action.

4) Eliminating the requirement that landlords who file no-fault ("own use") evictions must provide tenants 1-month compensation, if a 4-month notice is provided.

This will make it easier for bad actors to execute bad-faith evictions, & make evicted tenants more financially vulnerable.

3) Reducing the time available for tenants to appeal LTB decisions from 30- to 15-days.

Tenants already find it challenging to obtain assistance from legal aid clinics in 30-days. Cutting the time tenants have to secure legal help will exacerbate an already difficult situation.

2) Preventing tenants from raising new issues (such as health concerns or landlord harassment) at LTB rent arrears hearings, unless they pay 50% of arrears.

This hampers the ability to protest unfair rent hikes, creating a pay-to-access legal system, at a price set by landlords.

1) Reducing rent arrears notice periods in half, from 14 days to 7 days.

Tenants will have just 7 days to find funds to pay their arrears before an eviction is filed. This undermines the ability of social services or rent bank programs to support tenants & prevent homelessness.