New Research Highlights $102 Billion Economic and Social Value of Public Housing Investment
A coalition of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area’s largest public housing providers will join executives from Scotiabank on June 1 to launch a major new report examining the economic and social impact of public housing investment across the region.
The report, titled Public Housing Dividend, presents findings that strategic investment in public housing infrastructure across the GTHA could generate more than $102 billion in long-term economic, health, and community value.
The launch event will take place Monday at the Scotiabank Centre in downtown Toronto and will bring together housing leaders, financial sector representatives, healthcare experts, and public policy stakeholders for a series of presentations and panel discussions focused on the future of affordable housing financing and development.
Report Focuses on Economic and Social Returns
Organizers describe the Public Housing Dividend as a first-of-its-kind research initiative designed to quantify how investments in public housing contribute not only to housing stability, but also to economic growth, healthcare outcomes, and long-term community resilience.
The event will include an overview of the report’s findings, followed by discussions examining the broader multiplier effects of affordable housing and potential financing models to support future housing expansion.
Panel Discussions to Explore Housing Finance and Community Impact
The program begins with a morning reception at 8:30 a.m., followed by the official report launch and overview presentation at 9:00 a.m.
A panel discussion titled Beyond Shelter: The Multiplier Effects of Affordable Public Housing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. The session will focus on how affordable housing investments influence healthcare systems, workforce participation, and broader social outcomes.
A second panel discussion, Building the Future: Expanding the Financing Options for Housing, will begin at 10:15 a.m. and examine new approaches to housing finance and infrastructure investment.
Closing remarks are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception and light lunch.
Media Interviews Available With Housing and Finance Leaders
Media interviews will be available between 10:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Organizers said spokespeople available for interviews include:
Sean Baird
President and CEO of Toronto Community Housing Corporation
Meigan Terry
Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate and Public Affairs Officer at Scotiabank
Dr. Andrew Boozary
Founding Executive Director of the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine at University Health Network
The event is being hosted at the Scotiabank Centre, located at 44 King St. W., 2nd Floor, Toronto.
Collaborative Represents 40 Per Cent of Ontario’s Public Housing Stock
The event is organized by the GTHA Community Housing Collaborative, a regional alliance bringing together six of the largest public housing providers across Toronto, Peel, York, Durham, Halton, and Hamilton.
According to the organization, the collaborative collectively oversees more than 81,500 homes and serves over 150,000 tenants across the region.
The group said its combined public housing portfolio carries an asset value exceeding $20 billion and represents approximately 40 per cent of Ontario’s total public housing stock.
Organizers are encouraging media and stakeholders to RSVP in advance. Individuals unable to attend may request a copy of the Public Housing Dividend report following its official release on June 1.