Supportive Housing Case Studies: How supportive housing in Ontario and British Columbia is developed and operated

Abstract

Housing is a basic need that many Canadians struggle to obtain. While some Canadians cannot afford private market housing costs, others require additional services or supports to help ensure a stable tenancy and allow them to live independently and with dignity.

In this report, supportive housing was defined as affordable housing that is safe and secure, while providing access to support staff and services to enhance independent living. Supportive services are often flexible in nature, dependent on the needs of the individual, and can have many different forms.

This report examined two aspects of supportive housing: 1.) The development of new affordable housing; and 2.) The supportive services offered upon the completion and operation of housing.

Seven supportive housing case study projects were examined through a comparative case study analysis. The projects are from British Columbia and Ontario because these two provinces have the most serious housing affordability issues with high and rising rents, low vacancy rates, and large waiting lists for social housing. A profile was created for each project and key findings were synthesized and compared between the two provinces. The case studies are: • Karen’s Place, Ottawa, ON • Parkdale Landing, Hamilton, ON • Tony Di Pede Affordable Housing Complex, Toronto, ON • Dryden Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound, Dryden, ON • The Budzey Building, Vancouver, BC • Camas Gardens, Victoria, BC • New Jubilee House, Vancouver, BC

Since 2017, housing organizations have been looking for funding under the NHS. Opportunities for funding under the NHS for supportive housing were explored in this report.

This report demonstrates lessons learned and provides a spectrum of evidence-based best practices from existing supportive housing developments. The following questions are addressed in this report. 1. What are the existing models for development of affordable supportive housing? 2. What are the success factors to facilitate this type of development? 3. To what extent are these models and success factors aligned with the new funding opportunities under the NHS for supportive affordable housing?