Canadians Work Together in Housing Canada Coalition Campaign

The Housing Canada Coalition – made up of four leading Canadian organisations from across the housing sector – has launched a new advocacy campaign aiming to ensure housing and homelessness are front and centre in this federal election.

The End the Housing Game campaign highlights how the rising cost of living, unaffordable mortgages and rents, and lack of housing supply have created a housing system that plays out like an unfair game stacked against Canadians.

In a September 2024 Abacus Data poll, 57% of Canadians were already worried about how they would pay for their housing if their financial situation changed. Now, America’s trade war against Canada will make Canada’s housing crisis worse. Finding solutions to the crisis is more urgent as economic turmoil will push more of us out of jobs and homes and into homelessness.

“We’ve come together as a coalition with a plan to protect Canadians and build a resilient housing system,” said Tim Richter, president, the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness and Housing Canada Coalition campaign chair. “At the heart of our plan is a simple message: A safe, secure and prosperous Canada begins at home.”

“Our aim with this campaign is to make sure candidates from all parties are hearing from Canadians – loud and clear – that it’s time to end the housing game, and we can if we work together,” said Tim.

Last month, the Housing Canada Coalition put forward a 10-point plan to protect Canadians and build a resilient housing system, so every Canadian has a place to call home.

The campaign takes a bold approach with a new video ad, placing a team of diverse Canadians in a game they just can’t win - unless they work together.

“It was important to us that this be a made-in-Canada production, and we knew we needed to go big to draw attention to this issue,” said Andrew Burns, Housing Canada Coalition campaign manager, highlighting the Vancouver-based production company Wallop Film, director Scooter Corkle, a world-class crew, and the incredible cast
of UBCP/ACTRA performers.

“It’s an ad that captures the zeitgeist, the anxiety Canadians are experiencing, as well as the need for hope. We want to show that we can end this game if we work together and mobilize all of us to end the housing crisis,” said Andrew.

The End the Housing Game campaign and Housing Canada Coalition is a project of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH), the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), Habitat for Humanity Canada, and the Canadian Housing & Renewal Association (CHRA).