Research Insights on Social Inclusion from the Canadian Housing Survey

July 8, 2021

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)