A Better Approach to Social Housing

Everyone deserves a safe, stable, and dignified place to call home.

Canada recognizes housing as a human right through the National Housing Strategy Act. When people have secure housing, our entire community benefits. Stable housing helps reduce issues like open drug use, discarded needles in parks, and petty crime by giving people the stability they need to rebuild their lives.

But we need to be honest about something: affordable housing and social housing are not the same thing.

Building more affordable rental housing is important, but it isn't the same as creating social housing for people with the greatest needs.

Much of Canada's current approach focuses on encouraging private developers to build more rental housing through grants, tax incentives, and other incentives.

These programs can increase the number of rental units, but they don't necessarily create housing for Ottawa's most vulnerable residents.

Developers also tend to build more bachelor and one-bedroom apartments because they maximize the number of units on a property. That may make financial sense, but it doesn't solve the housing needs of many families.

Many homes classified as "affordable" still aren't affordable for the people with the greatest housing needs.

For many people experiencing homelessness or severe housing insecurity, these rents remain far out of reach.

Why Current Policies Fall Short

Ottawa's current approach isn't delivering enough social housing for the people who need it most.

Measures like the Vacant Unit Tax and the City's reno-viction by-law were introduced with good intentions. However, I don't believe they meaningfully increase the supply of social housing for the people who need it most.

Instead, they've created additional rules and administrative costs without meaningfully increasing the supply of social housing. They also generate revenue through Vacant Unit Tax penalties and renoviction permit fees.

Today's housing debate often comes down to two approaches: build more through the private sector or build more through government. I believe Ottawa should also consider a third option - purchasing existing homes for use as social housing.

Building new housing is important, but it takes years. Projects require planning, approvals, budgeting, procurement, and construction before a single family can move in. Ottawa has struggled to deliver major projects like the LRT on time and on budget.

Families who need a safe place to live today shouldn't have to wait years for permanent housing.

That's why I believe we need a solution that delivers housing now, while making better use of taxpayer dollars.

We also need to rethink emergency housing

Unfortunately, for many families, temporary housing has become long-term housing.

Today, hundreds of Ottawa families are living in hotels and motels as temporary housing.

These facilities were meant to provide emergency shelter, not become long-term homes for families.

I've seen firsthand how difficult this can be through my work at food banks. Many families living in hotel and motel rooms don't even have a stove. They rely on kettles to prepare basic meals because they don't have proper kitchens. That isn't a dignified way to live.

The human impact is clear. CBC recently shared the story of Jenny Jasmine and her two daughters, ages 11 and 12, who have been living in a motel in Kitchissippi for more than a year. More recently, Bells Corners flooding victims placed in temporary hotel and motel rooms have described the conditions as dirty, mouldy and inhumane.

It's also incredibly expensive.

Ottawa is spending tens of millions of dollars each year on temporary hotel and motel accommodations for homeless families. CBC reported that spending reached nearly $30 million in 2025.

As of March 2026, there were more than 660 families in Ottawa living in hotel and motel rooms, including 1,220 children.

I believe we should be asking a simple question:

What if we invested that money in permanent City-owned homes instead of temporary hotel and motel rooms?

Every year, Ottawa spends roughly $30 million on temporary accommodations. When that money is spent, taxpayers own nothing.

Based on today's housing market, roughly the same $30 million could purchase approximately 120 existing two-bedroom homes. That's 120 families who could have a stable place to live while the City builds a permanent housing asset instead of paying for short-term accommodation year after year.

If the City made a similar investment each year, it could steadily build a portfolio of publicly owned housing that grows in value over time while reducing reliance on costly emergency hotel and motel stays.

Unlike hotel and motel costs, permanent homes remain public assets. They build equity for taxpayers, provide long-term housing security for families, and help reduce emergency accommodation costs for years to come.

We need to think differently about social housing

I believe Ottawa should start treating social housing as a long-term public investment.

We don't judge libraries by whether they generate revenue. We value them because of the positive impact they have on our community.

Social housing should be viewed the same way.

Instead of viewing social housing as an expense, we should see it as an investment in people and in our City's future.

My proposal

Right now, Ottawa has an opportunity to rethink how we deliver social housing.

The challenge isn't simply building more homes. It's getting safe, permanent housing to the people who need it most, and doing it as quickly as possible.

In today's market, purchasing an existing home can cost significantly less than building a comparable new unit.

Rather than waiting years for new construction, I believe the City should purchase existing housing units across Ottawa and use them as social housing.

Making better use of taxpayer dollars

Ottawa is already spending significant amounts of public money on housing. The question is whether that money is creating permanent homes or paying for temporary solutions.

No single policy will solve Ottawa's housing crisis. 

But if we truly believe housing is a human right, we should invest in solutions that provide permanent homes, make responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and build stronger communities.

I believe purchasing existing homes as social housing is one practical way to achieve that.