IN THIS ISSUE

🎩 The rise of co-living

👏 Good news in housing

• Federal fund updated to include student housing

• What experts think Canada can learn from housing in Europe

• Downsview proposal for 1.5k affordable homes

🧩 More from Studenthaus

🗂 Rental resources

TOP STORY

👥 The rise of co-living

Throughout our research and resulting conversations with young Canadians, there have been two common denominators: affordability and loneliness.

2024’s Telus Mental Health Index listed ages 20-29 as the group with the lowest mental health scores in Canada.

Our research has showed us:

• 60% of young people can’t afford rent

• 90% are living with roommates

• 60% say cost is why they live with others

• Notably want to live with less people, but can’t afford it

Orgs are popping up around the world to try to address these issues with a housing form called co-living. Here’s the basic idea:

• Increases total number of people in a unit (more than usual)

• Smaller, individual dorm-style unit

• Shared common spaces, kitchens, and amenities that contribute to the creation of a community

• Per person rent comes down

Bottom Line: Requires a well-executed and intentional balance between privacy and community-building common spaces.

Groups are looking at creative strategies to costs to turn these co-living concepts into a cheaper option for young renters.

With the societal shift towards remote work, only the highest quality office space is succeeding in certain markets. Older office buildings have become the target for conversions into homes — Calgary even announced a $52 million fund for office-to-residential projects.

Toboggan Flats are one Canadian startup exploring opportunities to turn this low-cost office space into affordable co-living in downtown cores across the country.

Sound interesting to you? Stay tuned… odds are, co-living is coming to your city sooner rather than later.

💡 Frequency Update

From now on, we’ll share Haus Hacks every other Tuesday, instead of every week. As we get more feedback, we’ll keep adjusting the newsletter to make sure you’re getting the most out of it. Let us know below if you agree with this decision.

👏 Good news in housing

Feds update funding program to include student housing

This announcement extended Canada’s Affordable Housing Fund and Apartment Construction Loan Program another few years, with both on- and off-campus student housing projects now eligible for the latter initiative. This should enable greater investment in new housing for young people. Keep reading…

What housing experts think Canada can learn from Europe

U of T scholar Carolyn Whitzman urged Canada to think of affordable housing funding on a longer term horizon, as France, Denmark, and Austria do. She supports a mix of private and public investment focused on both immediate impact and future challenges. Keep reading…

Canada Lands releases Downsview project plan

This transformative project would become one of Canada’s largest transit-oriented communities, with 8,800 homes (40% of which are 2 or 3 bedroom units) and 9.3 acres of parkland. With 20% of the project devoted to affordable housing, this would be one of the largest below market designations in Toronto history. Keep reading…

🧩 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.

📋 Feedback