⭐ Our BuildCanadaHomes.org Analysis:
Takeaway:
The article criticizes the current frameworks outlined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) that prioritize small, low-rise homes, which do not adequately address the significant demand for larger family living spaces across Ontario. With a glaring lack of three-bedroom or larger options in their designs, the CMHC’s strategies seem misguided, particularly in a climate where densification and diversity in housing types are crucial for urban growth. Additionally, the framework’s omission of support for research and development hinders potential advancements in construction technologies that could enhance both efficiency and affordability.
For developers and builders within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ontario at large, this short-sighted framework poses immediate challenges but also presents opportunities. As the market grapples with a severe housing shortage, the focus on affordability must be expanded to include a broader range of housing typologies that meet the needs of families, rather than solely targeting low-rise models. A strategic shift towards advocating for zoning reform and innovative construction solutions will be critical in positioning firms for success. "Why it matters" for Ontario’s construction business owners is clear: adapting to the evolving housing landscape not only fulfills community needs but also ensures sustained relevance and profitability in a competitive market.
The small-home problem
The framework’s emphasis on standardized designs from the CMHC Housing Design Catalogue creates a significant issue. Of seven Ontario designs featured in the catalogue, none exceeds three storeys, and only five of 21 total units have three or more bedrooms.
“Given that Canada has a substantial shortage of three-bedroom and larger homes, and the need for our cities to densify, BCH’s prioritization of small, low-rise homes is a peculiar choice,” Moffatt wrote in his analysis.
Missing pieces on innovation and regulation
While BCH promotes modern construction methods, it excludes funding for research and development. The framework explicitly states the program “will only consider investments to the extent that they support its core mandate of directly increasing the amount of affordable housing.”
This creates what Moffatt calls a “valley of death” for emerging technologies. Beyond cost concerns, the framework ignores a harder problem: “zoning and building codes often make the most promising innovations illegal to build.”
One area that works
The framework does offer clarity where it matters most—affordability. “Housing is affordable when rents are no more than 30 per cent of before-tax income (based on median household income of an area),” the framework states, providing income-based tranches that Moffatt called “exceptionally detailed and common-sense.”
Source: Read the original article at Build Canada Homes framework reveals design choices that could deepen housing shortage on www.mpamag.com
