Carolyn Whitzman

Carolyn Whitzman, an adjunct professor and senior housing researcher at the University of Toronto, discusses Canada’s pressing housing crisis. She highlights Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ambitious plan to build millions of affordable homes using modular construction. The conversation analyzes historical housing policies from the 1940s and explores innovative solutions to overcome challenges in the current market, including zoning laws and rising costs. Whitzman emphasizes the need for collaboration among different government levels to create sustainable housing solutions.

Murtaza Haider, Executive Director at the Cities Institute, and Carolyn Whitzman, senior housing researcher at the University of Toronto, dive deep into Canada’s pressing housing crisis. They discuss historical roots and the gap between income and soaring housing prices. The conversation touches on obstacles posed by local politics and groups opposing housing development. They propose innovative solutions like upzoning, regulatory reform, and the Housing Accelerator Fund's role in driving municipal changes to ensure affordable housing for all.

Carolyn Whitzman, senior housing researcher at U of T and author of Home Truths, unpacks how policy shifts hollowed out affordable and non-market housing. She explores zoning, finance, and legal barriers that block co-housing and large-scale solutions. International contrasts and practical pathways like financing reform, municipal tools, and scaling non-market providers are highlighted.