Épisodes

  • Reimagining Co-op Housing with Heather Tremain

    Reimagining Co-op Housing with Heather Tremain
    Jan 22 2026
    On this episode of On the Way Home, we sit down with Heather Tremain, Executive Director of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto Development Society, whose career spans architecture, sustainable development, nonprofit transformation, and impact investing. Heather shares what “home” means to her, the journey that led her into social-purpose real estate, and why the renewal of co-op housing is so urgently needed today. She reflects on the often-underestimated strengths of the nonprofit sector, lessons from delivering nearly 900 homes at Options for Homes, the complexities of scaling affordable homeownership, and how strong cross-sector partnerships, from private developers to impact investors, can move solutions forward. Heather also explores the balance between sustainability and affordability, the policy shifts that could unlock progress, and the reasons she remains hopeful about the future of co-ops and nonprofit-led housing across Canada.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    48 min
  • Building for the Long Term: How Partnerships Power Supportive Housing in Ottawa

    Building for the Long Term: How Partnerships Power Supportive Housing in Ottawa
    Jan 15 2026
    In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly is joined by Cliff Youdale, Chief Development Officer at Ottawa Community Housing, to discuss what it takes to steward and modernize more than $4 billion in community housing assets while planning for the future of supportive housing. Drawing on over 30 years of experience as a professional engineer, Cliff shares how preventative maintenance, capital repair, and green initiatives work together to keep housing stable for tenants, and how innovative partnerships like the BumbleBee Initiative are accelerating supportive housing by combining public land, development expertise, and integrated health and social supports. Cliff highlights how this approach is not only reshaping outcomes in Ottawa but may also offer a compelling possibility model for other communities looking to strengthen their housing continuum and reduce homelessness.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    39 min
  • Costs vs. Prices: Adam Mongrain on Rethinking Canada’s Housing Diagnosis

    Costs vs. Prices: Adam Mongrain on Rethinking Canada’s Housing Diagnosis
    Jan 8 2026
    In this episode of On the Way Home, we speak with Adam Mongrain, Director of Housing Policy at Vivre en Ville, whose systems-oriented approach to the housing crisis raises provocative questions and challenges some of the assumptions that dominate today’s debates. Adam shares his unconventional journey from software development into housing policy, unpacks the distinction between cost problems and price problems, and explores how misdiagnosing these dynamics may be holding Canada back. He discusses his belief that building a broad public movement must come before asking politicians or households to make sacrifices, makes the case for a national rental registry, and reflects on lessons learned from working across research, planning, nonprofit development, and the co-op movement. Throughout the conversation, Adam offers thought-provoking perspectives, including some that push listeners to reconsider long-held narratives about ownership, equity, and reform and closes by sharing what gives him hope and where he sees the greatest opportunity for meaningful change in Canada’s housing future.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    45 min
  • Re-Igniting the Future of Housing: Introducing Ontario’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund

    Re-Igniting the Future of Housing: Introducing Ontario’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund
    Jan 1 2026

    Toronto’s housing system is at a breaking point. With home prices now nine times median income and purpose-built rental development stalled, we are losing fifteen older affordable units for every one new home built. Two-thirds of the GTHA workforce spend more than 30% of their income on housing. A strain that threatens families, employers, and Ontario’s economic future. To shift from crisis to construction, we must rethink how affordable housing is financed. In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy sits down with Mwarigha, Vice President of Housing Growth, Development & Asset Sustainability at WoodGreen Community Services to explore the concept of the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, a province-wide, Ontario-backed investment vehicle designed to unlock upfront capital and bring institutional investment back into affordable rental development. Developed in partnership with BILDGTA, FRPO, ONPHA and Arcadis, AHIF has the potential to de-risk projects, accelerate approvals, and support the creation of high-quality mixed-income, sustainable communities across Ontario, so that we can build a housing system that works for everyone.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    51 min
  • Beyond the Buzzwords: What “Scale” and "Innovation" Really Means in Housing

    Beyond the Buzzwords: What “Scale” and "Innovation" Really Means in Housing
    Dec 25 2025
    This week Emmy sits down with Adrienne Pacini (Partner, SHS Consulting) and Carolyn Whitzman (Adjunct Professor and Senior Housing Researcher) to explore what it really takes to scale affordable and non-market housing in Canada. From regional portfolio approaches and innovation labs to financing models and data-driven collaboration, this episode dives deep into practicalities and partnerships that can move us from pilot projects to sustained impact and what gives these housing leaders hope for the road ahead.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    53 min
  • From Evidence to Action: Nick Falvo on Paths to Ending Homelessness in Canada

    From Evidence to Action: Nick Falvo on Paths to Ending Homelessness in Canada
    Dec 18 2025


    This week, we sit down with Dr. Nick Falvo, researcher, policy expert, and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal on Homelessness. Drawing from more than a decade of frontline experience, Nick offers a grounded look at what Canada can realistically achieve right now: from defining meaningful short-term goals and strengthening supportive housing, to improving federal funding models and ensuring smaller communities aren’t left behind. He also highlights non-profit innovation and shares what we’re doing right which gives him hope for the future of housing and homelessness in Canada.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 min
  • Heather McDonald on Built for Good and Unafraid to Be First and Fast

    Heather McDonald on Built for Good and Unafraid to Be First and Fast
    Dec 11 2025
    In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly chats with Heather McDonald, President and CEO of United Way Greater Toronto, to explore her first 6 months in the role, United Way Greater Toronto's ambitious 10-year strategy, and insights from the new Built for Good report. Together, they unpack barriers slowing down affordable housing, where urgent action is needed, and how community organizations, governments, and non-profits can work "first and fast" together to build stronger, more connected communities across the GTA. A powerful conversation about leadership, collaboration, and the path forward.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    53 min
  • Building Canada’s Housing Future: A Conversation with CHRA’s Ray Sullivan

    Building Canada’s Housing Future: A Conversation with CHRA’s Ray Sullivan
    Dec 4 2025
    This week with On the Way Home, we’re joined by Ray Sullivan, Executive Director of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA), one of the country’s leading voices for non-market and community housing. With over 25 years in the field, Ray shares how the sector has evolved, what opportunities lie ahead and why research and collaboration are key to shaping a truly affordable housing system. Tune in as we explore the future of community housing in Canada and how, together, we can build a country where everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    31 min