“Homelessness & Affordability Crisis”

The belief that mental illnesses are the main driver of rising homelessness is noticeably widespread, and is prompting governments across Canada to expand involuntary commitment as a purported “solution.”

This belief, though, is not promoted by experts on homelessness so much as by influential proponents of more funding for mental health services and involuntary commitment, such as the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society, and by governments themselves, dodging responsibility for failed economic policies. In fact, the belief is heavily based on misleading claims and dubious data. Worse, it’s hindering us from fully recognizing and discussing – let alone helping – the people who are actually the fastest-growing demographic of unhoused Canadians. And if we don’t start seeing more clearly and investing in real solutions, this latter group could soon overwhelm the country’s already stretched support systems.

Toronto homeowners remain some of the country’s most vulnerable borrowers, according to a recent Bank of Canada report. The new study estimates that roughly nine per cent of Torontonians with mortgages won’t qualify for refinancing next year—more than double the percentage of Canadians as a whole.

Two-thirds of Canadians own their home. That number—66.5 percent in the 2021 Census—is often cited whenever the country debates whether its housing market is working. Taken at face value, it reassures policymakers that the system, whatever its flaws, delivers for the majority. But look beneath the surface, and the number tells a more complicated story.

Statistics Canada recently compared housing outcomes for Millennials, Gen-Xers, and Baby Boomers at the same stage of life. The headline finding was unsurprising but dispiriting: among Millennials aged 25 to 39 in 2021, 16.3 percent were living with their parents—nearly double the 8.2 percent of Baby Boomers in the same age bracket in 1991.

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Shrinking families and tepid homebuilding is paving the way to a future where homes will increasingly be inherited assets in Canada, passed down from one generation to the next.

It would mark a major shift from family homes being bought and sold, entrenching inequality across generations, with a lucky few inheriting secure housing and appreciating land wealth while others are permanently locked out. Yet this issue remains absent from Canada’s housing policy discussions, even though it is one all of us should be concerned about.

Canadians continue to face an uncertain future as income fails to keep pace with food price increases.

New data released from Statistics Canada showed that 24% of Canadians were living in a food-insecure household last year.

In real numbers, the percentage works out to approximately 9.8 million people, including 2.4 million children, living in households that struggled to afford the food needed.

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Canadians from coast to coast to coast are continuing to face food insecurity as income fails to keep pace with food price increases and advocates say the country is “failing” to meet some people’s human right to food.

Data from Statistics Canada showed about one in four Canadians was living in a food-insecure household last year.

The numbers were released the same month data showed food prices had increased 3.5 per cent year-over-year.

It costs some Canadians 120% of their income to pay for food and rent.

And this asshole has the audacity to say he is making life more affordable. pic.twitter.com/cCAK0D1ozy

— Anti-Boomer (@mapleblooded) May 26, 2026