Week in Review: January 16, 2026

Here’s a roundup of housing news and issues that we noticed this week:

From ECOHH’s social media

• From Crisis Response to Prevention: Lessons from Making the Shift Research

• City of Edmonton seeking input related to infill housing

• Advancing housing and climate justice through co-production: retrofitting, just transition, and the environmental impact of demolitions. (Jan 22) Register here

• City of Edmonton affordable housing progress

• Edmonton writer shares thoughts on housing for people with mental health issues

Relevant housing news 

• These key changes to services could reduce youth homelessness, advocates say

• Nova Scotia slashes reliance on hotels as housing stopgap

• Fewer encampments in Toronto in past year, but advocate says homelessness simply 'less visible' 

• Funding increase welcomed but executive director of supportive housing group highlights need for more

• Ontario proposes to pause rule that lets cities require affordable housing units

• New non-profit organization helps feed Edmonton’s homeless

• Toronto boosts rent aid to stop evictions before they start

• Realtors’ association expects Edmonton housing market to be balanced in 2026

• Crime down but Edmontonians feel unsafe due to 'social disorder': report

• 92 Co-op homes coming to North Cowichan

• Hamilton launching acquisition pilot to preserve ‘at risk’ affordable rentals

• Homelessness in rural Ontario is growing putting strain on small town resources

• Northern communities see fastest-growing homelessness rates in Ontario, new report says

• Montreal mayor unveils budget with homelessness, housing as top priorities

• Montreal program to help homeless people with mental health issues coming to Toronto

• Londoners sleeping rough say threshold to open emergency shelters is too cold

• Regina point-in-time count 'significantly underestimates' number of homeless people: advocates

• Where Canada’s real estate market is headed in 2026

• Hear why this economist thinks houses are still out of reach for young families

• Yellowknife couple says they have 'no choice' but to leave territory to avoid homelessness

• Winnipeg housing advocate calling on city to take proactive measures on derelict properties

• ‘It made me sick,’ Ontario senior says of rent increases at retirement residence

• Housing minister says Nova Scotia has more work to do to address rent prices

• Ontario looks to pause affordable housing requirements near transit hubs in Toronto, Mississauga, Kitchener

• A new home renovation grant program is launching in Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́

• Funding conflict could close some homeless services in Medicine Hat

• The city told some tenants their rent would be going down. Their landlords disagree

• N.B. Green Party leader suggests N.B. Housing could build long-term care homes faster

• The idea of parking lots turned into housing may be over

• Homeless encampment enforcement numbers

• Why have rent prices dropped for two years in a row?

As always, we recommend checking out these sources for additional information on housing and homelessness

• Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) 

• Canadian Centre for Housing Rights

• Canadian Housing & Renewal Association (CHRA) 

• Federal Housing Advocate

• Homeless Hub (Canadian Observatory on Homelessness) 

• Homeward Trust 

• Housing Complex  

• Make the Shift   

• National Right to Housing Network (NRHN)  

• Social Housing & Human Rights (SHHR) 

• Women’s National Housing and Homelessness Network