New GTHA initiative aims to strengthen housing capacity and quantify economic impact
Toronto — The six largest public housing providers in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) have formed a new regional alliance aimed at strengthening housing capacity, improving system sustainability, and advancing research into the economic and social value of public housing.
The newly established GTHA Community Housing Collaborative brings together CityHousing Hamilton, Housing Durham, Halton Community Housing Corporation, Housing York Inc., Peel Housing Corporation, and Toronto Community Housing. Collectively, these organizations serve more than 150,000 residents across six regional portfolios.
A coordinated response to housing challenges
The Collaborative represents a first-of-its-kind effort in Southern Ontario to align public housing providers around shared priorities, including housing renewal, expanding supply, and ensuring long-term system resilience. The initiative is rooted in a growing recognition that public housing plays a critical role as essential infrastructure supporting economic productivity, public health, and community stability.
By coordinating efforts across municipal boundaries, the group aims to strengthen advocacy and unlock new funding pathways while improving outcomes for tenants and communities.
Landmark study to measure housing’s economic impact
As its first major initiative, the Collaborative has commissioned a comprehensive regional study to evaluate the economic and social returns of public housing investment. The research is being conducted by the Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis using its ONEMODEL simulation platform.
Developed over more than a decade, ONEMODEL integrates over 300 variables to model how individuals and communities respond to changes in housing investment. The tool allows researchers to assess how public housing affects employment, health outcomes, and broader economic activity across more than 600 communities in the region.
The study is expected to provide one of the most detailed analyses to date of how housing investment influences both micro-level wellbeing and macroeconomic performance. Findings are scheduled for release in June 2026.
Financial sector backing underscores broader economic stakes
The initiative is supported by Scotiabank through its ScotiaRISE program, a $500-million commitment focused on improving economic resilience among disadvantaged populations. The partnership highlights increasing interest from the financial sector in housing affordability as a driver of economic growth.
“Through ScotiaRISE, we are proud to support the GTHA Community Housing Collaborative to advance data-driven research and improve outcomes for disadvantaged groups. The results of the Collaborative will provide meaningful insights into the role that innovative financing can play in growing the housing sector and strengthening economic growth and resilience.”
- Meigan Terry, Executive Vice President & Chief Corporate and Public Affairs Officer, Scotiabank
Leaders frame housing as economic infrastructure
Sector leaders involved in the Collaborative emphasized the need to reposition public housing as a foundational component of the economy rather than solely a social service.
“Public housing in the GTHA is valuable and productive infrastructure. This Collaborative reflects our shared recognition that the GTHA’s economic vitality, community health and social wellbeing are intimately bound to the fate of public housing. If we treat public housing like infrastructure that generates economic prosperity and more resilient communities, we can unlock benefits that ripple into every corner of society. This is a generational opportunity that demands coordinated regional leadership.”
- Sean Baird, President & CEO, Toronto Community Housing Corporation
“The GTHA Community Housing Collaborative marks an important step forward in how we understand, invest in, and advocate for affordable housing across the GTHA. At CityHousing Hamilton, we see every day how stable, affordable housing supports people’s ability to work, stay healthy, and contribute to their communities. By working together and grounding our decisions in rigorous, evidence-based research, we have an opportunity to demonstrate that public housing is not just a social good, but as an essential part of the economy that benefits everyone.”
- Adam Sweedland, President & CEO, CityHousing Hamilton
Regional alignment seen as key to long-term outcomes
Other leaders highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing systemic housing challenges and reframing investment decisions.
“The GTHA Community Housing Collaborative is bringing everyone to the table to make a positive difference in public housing across our communities. This research will help change how public housing investment is understood and evaluated, demonstrating the clear value of public housing to our economy, health and community resilience.”
- Erin Valant, Director of Housing Services and CEO of Housing Durham, The Regional Municipality of Durham
“Community infrastructure is essential – we simply can’t have complete communities without it. Peel Housing Corporation is proud to join our partners in this Collaborative to help advance research that demonstrates how investing in community housing strengthens economic resilience, and creates lasting social value for residents in our communities.”
- Jason Hastings, General Manager, Peel Housing Corporation
“Safe, affordable housing is fundamental to strong, inclusive communities, connecting people to opportunity, employment and a sense of belonging. By working collaboratively, we can better align our efforts to deliver housing solutions for everyone, ensuring our communities are healthy and built for everyone to succeed.”
- Eric Jolliffe, Chairman and CEO, The Regional Municipality of York and Chief Executive Officer, Housing York Inc.
A significant share of Ontario’s housing system
The Collaborative represents approximately 40 per cent of Ontario’s public housing stock, including more than 81,500 homes with a combined asset value exceeding $20 billion. Its members oversee housing across Toronto, Peel, York, Durham, Halton, and Hamilton.
As policymakers and investors increasingly focus on housing affordability and economic resilience, the outcomes of the Collaborative’s research could play a pivotal role in shaping future funding models and infrastructure strategies across Canada.