By Claude & Parth on 2026-03-31, City: Ottawa, View Transcript
City council approved a new 10-year housing and homelessness plan, marking a shift from prescriptive planning to flexible, community-focused strategies. The plan acknowledges the city cannot solve housing issues alone and requires sustained provincial and federal investment. Council also passed a motion to harmonize housing definitions across city departments and approved a pilot project allowing debt financing for the housing corporation.
Council approved a comprehensive housing strategy that replaces the previous 150-page plan with a streamlined 30-page framework supported by annual work plans. The plan identifies three main priorities: housing supply and preservation, support services, and preventing housing loss. Officials acknowledged significant progress over the past five years, including the preservation of 25,000 social housing units, construction of 554 new affordable units, and creation of 3,279 housing benefits. However, staff emphasized limitations: "We don't have all the necessary levers to tackle all the problems we face. We need structural and systemic change. We need investment from other levels of government."
The plan includes an ambitious goal to end youth homelessness by 2030, though officials acknowledged chronic homelessness levels remain "approximately the same" over the past five years. A critical system flaw was identified: "We've designed a system here that creates a need to escalate risks so it becomes chronic homelessness before we have the necessary services."
A severe funding crisis emerged as a central concern. Officials revealed that 70% of residents requiring subsidized housing do not receive it, with over 315,000 people needing assistance while the province only funds 69.8%. The provincial government currently provides $2 billion when $6 billion is needed. One councillor stated: "We are talking about mental health crisis, addiction, we are talking about homelessness and housing crisis, but the crisis rests on the provincial government and the lack of funding."
The city has approved a $7.1 million funding cap for municipal housing programs, with staff acknowledging "The city does not have the necessary fiscal levers to expand programs like the federal or provincial governments."
Councillor Plante introduced a motion to address inconsistencies in housing definitions across city departments. The motion, which was adopted, directs staff to review housing type definitions across all city services and report back with a harmonized framework. The issue arose from confusion between shelters, transitional housing, supportive housing, and other categories. One speaker noted: "If as a community partner and staff, you work in this all the time and don't understand the definitions very well, it's obvious the public can't either."
The city established a Homelessness Leadership Table featuring co-design with community partners, people with lived experience, Indigenous partners, and service providers. Two seats were allocated specifically to people with lived experience of homelessness. Marc, a homeless veteran who now lives in housing on Elgen Street, testified: "I have the impression that my contribution is valued."
Multiple community organizations presented, including the Community Health Resource Centers Coalition (serving 1,300 residents with over 1,500 staff), the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, and the Ottawa Community Land Trust. The Alliance reported record numbers of families living in hotels and people living in transition shelters for years.
Council approved a pilot project allowing debt financing for the housing corporation, described as creating financial risk for the city but providing an "exciting" new financial tool. The city also discussed expanding its acquisition strategy, having purchased 311 Minto units in 2024 as an example of preservation efforts. The Ottawa Community Land Trust reported expanding from 31 to 47 affordable apartments and raising nearly $4 million in community investment since 2024.
Staff announced a comprehensive review of all housing programs with sector consultation, targeting April for rollout of pre-development funding for non-profit housing. The city previously committed 90% of federal Housing Acceleration Plan funding to affordable housing through a Pipeline Strategy providing 3-year funding certainty.
Passed: - Adoption of the 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan (modified version) - Motion directing staff to harmonize housing type definitions across all city services and report back with recommended updates (introduced by Councillor Plante) - Pilot project for debt financing for the housing corporation
Councillors present included: - Councillor Cruster - Councillor Plante - Councillor Johnson - Councillor Trust/Truster - Councillor King - Chairman Laper
Also present: - The Mayor (referenced as speaker at upcoming symposium) - Deputy Mayor (Councillor Kit, referenced as speaker at upcoming symposium)