IN THIS ISSUE

🎩 New study highlights youth housing need

👏 This edition of good news in housing

• November housing starts grow

• Toronto chooses new planning chief

• 41k new homes enabled by Broadway plan

📖 Chaos in Canadian politics

🧩 More from Studenthaus

🗂 Rental resources

TOP STORY

🥼 Study highlights youth housing need

In the midst of one of the most chaotic weeks in Canadian politics (keep reading for the 30 second breakdown), think tank Youthful Cities has released the initial results from their youth housing study. We partnered with YC and other leading voices in housing research to bring young voices to the forefront of the conversation.

The study focused on youth (ages 18-33) in 15 cities across the country. This an important demographic, because it allows us to visualize how lived experiences change as young people get older.

Here’s what the first result release tells us:

• 58% of youth in Canada rent, 21% own 

• 18% live rent- and mortgage free (do not contribute, own, or rent)

• 45% of youth live in two-bedroom (24%) or three-bedroom (21%) units

• One-bedrooms (14%) and studios (5%) are less common due to cost

• 43% of youth live outside city centres, drawn to slightly more affordable housing but become more car dependent

• Affordability and availability are key themes

• Anecdotally, housing is impacting desire to start a family

Read more…

It’s clear that young people are making a sacrifice by dealing with the cost of housing. In January, we’ll be kicking off a campaign targeting compensation in the form of funding for youth housing.

Want to help us change how young Canadians live? Reply to this email to learn more.

👏 Good news in housing

CMHC announces November housing starts grew 8% vs October

November’s 20k increase in housing starts was primarily led by multi-unit projects kicking off in Alberta, Quebec, and BC. Vancouver and Ontario, specifically Toronto, are still behind 2023 tallies. Keep reading…

Toronto chooses its next urban planning chief

A year after the departure of the last, former Hamilton planning manager and consultant Jason Thorne will take over. He brings a reputation as an action-oriented city builder who will ensure proactive progress takes place. Keep reading…

Vancouver council passes Broadway plan for 41k new homes

After years of discourse, CoV council has approved an updated 30-yr plan for the Broadway corridor. There are already 139 projects in the pipeline that account for 20k new homes, 3.5k of which will be affordable. By 2050, the Broadway Area plan would enable 41k net new homes and significant economic growth. Keep reading…

📖 Pure chaos in Canadian politics

December 16 was one of the busiest days in recent Canadian political history. Here’s what went down:

• Housing Minister Sean Fraser not seeking re-election

• Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned

• Fall Economic Statement released

• NDP leader Jagmeet Singh called for Trudeau to resign

• CPC leader Poilievre wants election by January

How will it all shake out? Only time will tell.

🧩 More from Studenthaus

🗂 Rental resources

Whether it’s your first time living on your own or you’ve been renting for years, this is the time of year that lots of young people are getting settled in new places, which can involve dealing with a new landlord.

Is your landlord illegally entering your unit, trying to change your agreement without your consent, or unreasonably preventing you from having overnight guests?

If so, and you can’t quite figure out how to word a message to your landlord, check out the list of template letters from BC’s Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre to help you out.

There’s even a template roommate agreement.

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