Épisodes

  • Designing Ontario’s Next Housing Bill: Bold Ideas to Unlock Non-Profit Housing at Scale

    Designing Ontario’s Next Housing Bill: Bold Ideas to Unlock Non-Profit Housing at Scale
    Jul 2 2026


    What if Ontario’s next housing bill were written with a clear objective: to deliver significantly more non-profit and below-market housing across the province? In this special panel episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly moderates a forward-looking conversation with John Fox Partner at Robins Appleby LLP, Nick Gefucia Senior Vice President, Affordable Housing at EllisDon Community Builders, and Andrew McKenzie Director of Operations at the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. Together, they explore what recent housing legislation has achieved and where there is opportunity for us to do better. The discussion explores the possibilities of what specific policies, financing tools, land strategies, and regulatory reforms could be included in the next housing bill to facilitate scale. From practical changes to bold ideas, this is a candid conversation about what it would take to fundamentally shift the trajectory of community housing in Ontario.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    49 min
  • From Sector to System: Reimagining Canada’s Community Housing Future

    From Sector to System: Reimagining Canada’s Community Housing Future
    Jun 25 2026
    What if Canada’s housing challenge is not only about supply, but about how the entire system is designed to deliver at scale? In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Lisa Ker, Executive Director of the Community Housing Transformation Centre, alongside Development Managers Joseph Daniels, Dawn Campbell, and Luc Labelle, about how community housing can evolve from a fragmented sector into a coordinated system, and ultimately a mature industry capable of meeting Canada’s growing needs. Drawing on their cross-country review of housing models in every province and territory, they unpack themes such as autonomy, risk-sharing, partnerships, and portfolio-based approaches. The conversation also offers a preview of the Centre’s new housing report being released this spring, highlighting where Canada is making progress, where it is falling short, and what policy, structural, and mindset shifts could unlock more scalable and sustainable community housing solutions.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 h
  • Rethinking Student Housing: Co-ops, Community, and Equity with Nathi Zamisa

    Rethinking Student Housing: Co-ops, Community, and Equity with Nathi Zamisa
    Jun 18 2026
    As student housing costs rise and traditional models fall short, new approaches are emerging that center community, equity, and affordability. In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Nathi Zamisa Co-Executive Director of HOUSE Canada, about how co-operative and non-profit housing can reshape the student housing landscape. Drawing on his work across Toronto and Mississauga, they explore the barriers students face today, gaps in practice and policy, and what it takes to scale non-market housing models. The conversation also highlights sustainability, and collaboration in building a more inclusive housing system and what gives him hope for what comes next.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    35 min
  • Scaling Housing Impact with Ala’a Shadid

    Scaling Housing Impact with Ala’a Shadid
    Jun 11 2026
    What does it take to lead through complexity without losing sight of long-term change? In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy speaks with Ala’a Shadid, Executive Director of the Multifaith Housing Initiative, about navigating the tension between day-to-day operations and building toward systems transformation. Ala’a reflects on his journey into housing and the realities of leadership in a sector often stuck in reactive mode, challenging us to “stop normalizing crisis” and move toward more sustainable, proactive approaches. He shares insights on partnerships, governance, and responsible growth, offering a thoughtful perspective on how organizations can scale their impact without losing their mission in an increasingly complex housing landscape.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    39 min
  • Aging with Dignity: Community, Care, and Connection with Tom Hunter

    Aging with Dignity: Community, Care, and Connection with Tom Hunter
    Jun 4 2026
    Supporting more than 15,000 seniors across 83 buildings, Tom Hunter is leading one of Canada’s largest seniors housing portfolios at a time of growing complexity. In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with the CEO of the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation about what it takes to help seniors age in place with dignity and stability. Tom reflects on his journey into the role, the importance of community-building initiatives like Community Connect+, and how partnerships with Ontario Health are integrating care and housing. The conversation also explores safety solutions and concerns, system pressures like Landlord and Tenant Board delays, and what the future of seniors housing needs to look like to truly support connection and well-being.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    45 min
  • Supportive Housing as Community Infrastructure: A Conversation with Victor Willis

    Supportive Housing as Community Infrastructure: A Conversation with Victor Willis
    May 28 2026
    In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Victor Willis, Lead of the Toronto Mental Health & Addictions Supportive Housing Network, about the critical role supportive housing plays in strengthening communities and addressing gaps in housing and our communities. Drawing on more than 30 years in community development, Victor explains what supportive housing is, why it exists, and how collaboration between nonprofits, municipalities, and land trusts can create lasting affordability and community control. He reflects on expanding PARC’s housing portfolio in partnership with the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, the role of social purpose real estate in poverty reduction, and the broader societal benefits of investing in supportive housing across Toronto and beyond.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    56 min
  • Strengthening Supports and Futures: A Conversation with Jen Crowe

    Strengthening Supports and Futures: A Conversation with Jen Crowe
    May 21 2026
    In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Jen Crowe, Executive Director of Choices for Youth, about the evolving landscape of youth homelessness in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada. Jen shares insights into the unique realities facing young people in both urban and rural communities, explains how a systems-focused and equity-driven approach can address root causes rather than just crisis, and outlines the impact of the Family and Natural Supports model in preventing homelessness. She also discusses innovative housing strategies, including a portfolio-based approach to affordable housing, and the launch of Becket Integrated Youth Services, a province-wide initiative transforming how young people access mental health and social supports. Drawing on both local and national perspectives, Jen highlights the policy shifts needed to truly end youth homelessness and what gives her hope for the future

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    53 min
  • Reconciliation in Practice: A Conversation with Deliah Bernard

    Reconciliation in Practice: A Conversation with Deliah Bernard
    May 14 2026
    In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Deliah Bernard, Partner at Root Strategies, about what meaningful reconciliation looks like in practice and how relationships, leadership, and listening shape lasting change. Drawing on her experience working alongside Indigenous communities and advising on major national initiatives, including serving as Senior Indigenous Affairs Advisor in the Office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Deliah shares reflections on centering Indigenous voices in decision-making, building trust across sectors, and understanding housing as connected to dignity, culture, and self-determination. She discusses lessons learned from moments of crisis and healing, practices that help sustain respectful collaboration, and the changes she hopes to see in the coming decade as Indigenous communities continue to lead and shape their own futures.

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