Week in Review: March 20, 2026

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

From ECOHH’s social media

• Webinar on housing challenges in Canada

• Ontario’s decision to withdraw funding from supervised consumption services is a concerning step backward in the response to the toxic drug crisis

• Homeownership costs aren't just about prices, they're about how prices relate to incomes, savings, and timing

• New policy paper from Community Housing Canada on secondary suites

• New report recommends end to "Distress for rent" option for landlords

• Do you work in an Indigenous or Indigenous-serving organization focused on Indigenous houselessness and supports? Then join us for Indigenous Gathering 2026 where we will come together to connect and share learning on urban Indigenous houselessness in Edmonton.

• The Government of Manitoba has introduced legislation to strengthen rent regulations. Maybe some good ideas for Alberta too??

Relevant housing news 

• Centre of Recovery Excellence manipulating health information of people who use drugs to undermine their safety

• Toronto’s donor-funded consumption sites bracing for fallout of Ontario funding cuts

• New committee aims to support pregnant women who are homeless

• Spain to temporarily freeze rents due to Middle East war: PM

• The Hidden Injury That’s Increasing Homelessness

• Trump’s HUD Is Pushing Low-Income Tenants Out of Subsidized Housing

• Volatile oil prices could bring shocking energy bills to Albertans with renters most as risk

• Preventable cold-related deaths take toll on Ontario’s homeless population, hospital staff

• Rent discounts can turn into 'back door' for increases, Manitoba tenant says

• NDP leader says AG’s findings on social housing are ‘unacceptable,’ calls out former Liberal government

• Emergency shelter closing to become navigation centre for Winnipeg’s homeless population: premier

• Here's what to know about rent renewals and price hikes in Montreal

• Manitoba looks to expand rent control to thousands more units

• Canada and Nunavut leaders commit to take action on territory's housing crisis 

• How temperature swings put Ottawa's unhoused population at risk

• Halifax ‘asking rents’ climbed in February as other Canadian cities saw decreases 

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