Building with Mission

Older adults comprise 15.6% of Canada’s population, and that number is expected to grow to 23% by 2030. The majority of seniors want to age in their own homes, but that’s not always possible. Existing housing models for seniors are also not always affordable or available. A larger and more diverse supply of accessible, affordable and safe seniors housing is required to meet their needs.

The Building with Mission Solutions Lab will address that gap through collaboration with a range of stakeholders. Together, they will co-create affordable, accessible housing solutions that meet the unique needs of seniors. The Lab will also provide guidance on how to get those projects off the ground.

Project scope and expected outcomes

Pieces in the affordable housing puzzle

Creating inclusive, affordable housing for seniors is a complex issue. It is made more complicated because no single organization has the skills, expertise and resources to create such housing. Instead, each group has different areas of expertise that are pieces in the larger housing puzzle. This Lab will bring those pieces and organization together, introducing new tools and ways of working together.

A commitment to social innovation and co-design

The Lab will use several different methods and approaches, including human-centered design, qualitative research, systems thinking and foresight. Its methodology reflects a commitment to the principles of social innovation and co-design with its participants.

The Lab will follow 5 phases:

• The Definition Phase will include a stakeholder analysis that identifies their needs and preferences, as well as potential recruitment strategies. A project website will be created that outlines the initial structure of the playbook, which can guide similar collaborative efforts.
• The Discovery Phase includes research into trends, labs with 12 to 20 stakeholder participants and a series of interviews. It also will see empathy and journey mapping exercises and a foresight sprint that explores possible futures and adaptive strategies.
• The Development Phase involves the creation of personas to illustrate needs and design requirements through storytelling. A problem map will be created and ideation and strategy prioritization will take place. Co-design workshops also will be held to develop housing prototypes.
• The Prototype and Delivery Phase will refine the protypes through in-depth testing. A validation survey will be completed, and the findings and decision-making will be documented in the playbook.
• The Roadmap Phase will involve finalizing and sharing the completed playbook. The roadmap will be developed, and the goals and indicators will be checked and updated.

Sharing findings and lessons learned

The Lab’s website will be the platform for sharing findings and lessons learned. This includes the Lab playbook for mission-driven health care organizations interested in developing affordable housing for older adults. The website also will include knowledge products created through the Lab, including scenarios, problem maps, personas and a webinar series.