As part of the National Housing Strategy Housing Needs Data initiative, CMHC launched the Canadian Housing Survey. CMHC collaborates with Statistics Canada in gathering information on housing conditions. The survey is conducted every 2 years until 2028. It provides a comprehensive picture of the state of housing in Canada, covering market housing and community and affordable housing.
The information collected will help further understand and address issues such as access to affordable housing and to improve housing conditions. Specifically, information from this survey will help us to understand:
- if people are satisfied with their homes, their neighbourhoods and their communities
- if those most in need are able to access affordable housing
- The role of housing in the well-being of Canadians
- the possible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on housing needs
There was a need to fill important data gaps and to gather information on social inclusion as it relates to housing. Therefore, CMHC initiated several projects on the topic, using data from the Canadian Housing Survey:
Proximity Measures Database (PDF)
- measuring how close Canadians are to services and amenities
Understanding Neighbourhood Income Mixing in Canadian Cities (PDF)
- examining the relationship between income mixing and dwelling and neighbourhood satisfaction
Understanding Canadian Households Self-Reported Sense of Social Inclusion (PDF)
- researching 5 dimensions of inclusion that are relevant to housing policy
- dwelling satisfaction
- neighbourhood satisfaction
- satisfaction with feeling part of the community
- sense of safety
- economic hardship
Historical tax information in the Canadian Housing Survey database (PDF)
- informing our policies on appropriate housing supports and contributing to the evaluation of housing outcomes
These insights focused on proximity, neighbourhood, inclusion and housing outcomes as important priorities of the National Housing Strategy.
Access the Canadian Housing Survey data and read the Research Insights