Canada faces one of the most severe housing crises in the anglosphere. Toronto and Vancouver consistently rank among the world’s least affordable housing markets. With the federal budget set to be released next week, proposed solutions abound: build millions of homes, expand non-profit housing, and invest billions in infrastructure renewal. Prime Minister Carney has warned of sacrifices ahead, citing tariffs, military investments, supply chain disruptions, and labour shortages. But one sacrifice we cannot afford is abandoning the measurement of housing progress.
HART’s impact
Our first impact report shows that HART research has been adopted in nearly three-quarters of Canadian cities, across nearly every province and territory. Our BC Public Lands Map project alone is revealing hundreds of thousands of government-owned parcels suitable for housing development.
The critical importance of 2026 Census data
The upcoming 2026 Census will be transformative. Unlike 2021—skewed by CERB payments and pre-dating significant affordability declines—this census will:
- Provide a comprehensive snapshot of post-pandemic housing affordability and access nationwide
- Measure the effectiveness of housing policies at all levels of government
- Shape housing strategies for every community through 2032
HART is uniquely placed to update and expand the free, online HART Tools for communities to use in any future housing needs assessments and funding proposals, generating additional millions in cost savings across Canada.
The funding gap
HART was initially funded through CMHC’s Housing Supply Challenge. We’ve leveraged that award to secure over $1M in additional funding, expanding our tools and community partnerships across Canada.
However, our current funding only extends through September 2026—more than a year before the 2026 Census data is released in late 2027. Without additional government support, HART tools won’t be available when communities need them most.
What we can accomplish
Our impact report outlines key projects: enhanced data tools, nationwide government land mapping, transit-oriented development metrics, and measuring non-profit housing outcomes. Most projects require less than $1M annually. Maintaining HART and existing tools costs less than $600K per year.
Take action
HART provides essential data infrastructure for municipal, regional, provincial, and territorial governments, as well as agencies like Build Canada Homes. If you believe this work deserves federal support, sign our letter of support.
Support HART’s work
