The City of Hamilton's Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap

The Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap is an evidence-based strategic policy implementation framework to guide development of priorities and programming to address housing affordability challenges. It focuses on new construction, housing acquisition, preserving existing housing and supporting tenants. Immediate outcomes included the establishment of a Housing Secretariat and the adoption of a renoviction by-law in 2024. This framework provides communities with tools to create more stable and affordable housing systems.

Project scope and expected outcomes

Affordable housing need in Hamilton

An analysis from 2011 to 2021 revealed that Hamilton lost over 15,000 rental units with monthly rents below $750.

This loss far outpaced the creation of new affordable units built through federal programs. The reliance on the private market to supply affordable housing leaves the city vulnerable to further affordability challenges.

Building a research-based solution

Partnering with the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative, the City of Hamilton launched its research project in June 2022 to address this crisis. Adopted by City Council in April 2023, the Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap followed a “stages model”:

1. Agenda-setting to identify priorities.
2. Policy formulation to develop actionable strategies.
3. Decision-making to select effective approaches.
4. Implementation to put plans into action.
5. Evaluation to measure outcomes and refine actions.

This innovative approach addresses housing challenges holistically, making it more effective than sector-specific strategies.

Research-driven insights

The roadmap is centred around 2 main research activities:

• Housing affordability analysis: Analyzed market trends and identified why affordable housing was being lost.
• Housing system analysis: Reviewed municipal strengths and federal and provincial policies to develop strategies for preserving housing stock and creating new homes.

Four key areas for action

The roadmap took a cross-sectoral approach and identified 4 main pillars to address Hamilton’s housing challenges:

• New construction to increase housing supply.
• Acquisition of housing to preserve affordability.
• Preservation and retention to protect current affordable units.
• Housing-based supports to help residents access and maintain housing.

Collaboration and oversight

Stakeholder input ensured the roadmap’s strategies were inclusive, practical and impactful. The research team consulted City staff, councillors, developers, tenant groups, Indigenous organizations and ethno-cultural organizations to ensure community needs were being met.

To secure long-term success, the roadmap recommends establishing a Housing Secretariat to oversee implementation and track progress.

A strategic path forward for housing affordability

The Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap has already driven policy innovation in Hamilton. A major milestone was the introduction of a renoviction by-law in April 2024, which aims to protect tenants from displacement and preserving affordable rental units.

Combining strategic planning, evidence-based research and partnerships, this research offers tools for cities seeking to build inclusive housing systems that meet the needs of residents experiencing housing challenges.