National Housing Council Unveils Outcomes-Focused Framework to Tackle Canada's Housing Crisis

On October 28, 2025, the National Housing Council (NHC) released a report that offers a comprehensive framework to evaluate the effectiveness of federal housing policy in Canada. The report, titled "Measuring What Matters: Proposing an Outcomes Framework for Federal Housing Policy," comes as the government launches a new initiative, "Build Canada Homes," to address the country's housing crisis.

The report's analysis paints a concerning picture of Canada's housing system. It finds that home ownership is affordable in fewer than 20% of Canadian markets, and asking rents are unaffordable for most renters. Additionally, Canadians are facing increasing barriers to moving through the housing system, from renting an apartment to purchasing a family-sized home. The report also highlights persistent equity gaps, with lower-income households, women, Indigenous people, and racialized communities experiencing worse housing outcomes.

The NHC argues that a fundamental shift is needed in how housing policy is evaluated. Rather than focusing on inputs and outputs, such as dollars spent and units built, the report proposes a framework centered on outcomes for people. This includes tracking progress using a rights-based approach that considers the seven elements of adequate housing, as well as the affordability and accessibility of key housing transitions.

The report makes several recommendations, including refocusing measurement on outcomes, adopting a "Team Canada" approach to tackle the cost-of-delivery crisis, and supporting all segments of the housing system to ensure new homes meet people's needs at an affordable price.