Week in Review: February 20, 2026
- mlmiller15
- Feb 20
- 3 min read
Here’s a roundup of housing news and issues that we noticed this week:
From ECOHH’s social media
A fact sheet about the federal Build Canada Homes program
A new report to the UN Human Rights Council about housing rights in Canada
City of Edmonton tenant supports expanding availability
Not all renters have equal opportunity-- discrimination is an issue. Some information from Statistics Canada
Food resources available in Edmonton
Rent control update from USA
A statewide rent control ballot proposal in Massachusetts that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu endorsed last week has ignited heated debate. In a bid to make housing more affordable in the state, a group of labour unions and housing activists collected enough signatures to put the issue to a vote in November. Midterm voters will decide whether to cap rent increases at no more than the state’s inflation rate (with a maximum of 5% yearly). Opponents, including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, say the rent cap would disincentivize supply-boosting housing development—an approach many housing researchers and advocates say is the true solution to making rents affordable. New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, ran on a promise of freezing rent on ~1 million rent-stabilized units.
Critics argue the move could stunt construction and make it economically infeasible for landlords to make costly repairs.
They cite research suggesting that San Francisco’s rent control in the 1990s pushed many landlords to convert their rentals into owner-occupied units.
But Mamdani suggested his rent-freezing platform was necessary to get New Yorkers onboard with other parts of his housing plan, like removing red tape for homebuilders. Now, in a move that could further impact rental economics, Mamdani proposes a 9.5% property tax to fill the city’s budget holes.
Los Angeles tightened up its rent control laws at the end of last year for the first time in decades, and Washington’s governor signed a rent control law into effect last year.
Not up for debate…is the need to address housing affordability as American renters spend an average of 40% of their income on housing, according to a recent survey by rental platform Zumper.
The City of Edmonton has activated its extreme weather response
A panel discussion on the continuing problem of opioid use- focus is Ontario but relevant to anyone
Seminar on preventing black youth homelessness
Relevant housing news
Thunder Bay, Ont., has declared homelessness as a humanitarian crisis. What happens now?
People with heart conditions and the homeless are more vulnerable in cold weather: Edmonton doctor
U.S. housing department proposes rule that would force noncitizens from public housing
Wedgewood Heights affordable home plan goes ahead after heated debate
Nonprofit aims to improve lives of Yellowknife’s unhoused residents
Safe supply program aims to protect people from dangerous street drugs
Cold snap on Vancouver Island prompts call for more services for homeless population
Extreme cold prompts outreach efforts for Calgary’s homeless population
Report suggests Whitehorse needs 3,000 homes in 5 years just to keep up with demand
'Catastrophic' decision to scrap affordable rental program leaves projects in limbo
Housing non-profits slam 'catastrophic' cuts to affordable housing program
Housing shortage in Naujaat raises concerns for an aging population and growing waitlist
Federal government announces $24M toward affordable housing in Yellowknife
This tenant’s fight against a renoviction is heading to N.S. Supreme Court
The territorial government has promised to eliminate the rent cap, hear more on what that means for landlords and tenants
As always, we recommend checking out these sources for additional information on housing and homelessness
Homeless Hub (Canadian Observatory on Homelessness)
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