Breaking Barriers: Collaborative Solutions to Canada’s Housing Crisis

In May, at this year’s Partnership Conference, I had the pleasure of hosting an inspiring and informative panel discussion on affordable housing. Leaders from across Canada shared a compelling vision for solving one of our nation’s most pressing challenges. The key message? Collaboration is not just helpful – it’s essential.

I led the session by introducing the transformative potential of what we call the P4 Partnership Model – bringing together public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit providers to create innovative housing solutions.

The Resolve Campaign in Calgary stands as a testament to this approach. Between 2012 and 2018, nine agencies collaborated to raise $300 million, constructing 21 new buildings and providing housing for 1,850 Calgarians. This wasn’t just about building structures, but about building hope and community.

Jeff Dyer from Trellis Society shared a remarkable story that epitomizes the power of partnership. During the Resolve Campaign, four donors were so moved by a tenant’s story that they each committed $1.4 million to housing initiatives. This demonstrates how personal connections can unlock transformative funding.

Alkarim Devani, co-founder of Mddl, is tackling the housing crisis through the education and empowerment of citizen developers. Through their Mddl School program, they have trained over 1,000 people including more than 600 homeowners with the potential to unlock 3,700 additional housing units. By teaching people how to develop housing on their own properties, they’re democratizing the solution.

The scale of the challenge is immense. Canada faces a gap today of 4.4 million affordable homes, with 3 million needed for low- to very-low-income populations. But the panelists were united in their belief that this challenge can be overcome through courage, collaboration, and innovative thinking.

Jolene Livingston, founder of Bespoke Social Profit Solutions and Partners for Affordable Housing, emphasized that courage means taking the first step, even when the path isn’t entirely clear. Jolene shared that launching Partners for Affordable Housing has been the hardest thing she’s ever done. But it’s also led to some of the most rewarding moments, including transformational multi-million dollar gifts that are allowing the organization to scale efforts across Canada.

Key insights from the panel included:

• Breaking down competitive barriers between organizations
• Welcoming disruption as an opportunity for change
• Inviting diverse perspectives to the table
• Creating flexible, collaborative funding models

The panelists challenged traditional approaches, urging organizations to:

• Share insights generously
• Work across sector boundaries
• Be the first to take risks
• Invite nonprofit leaders into corporate decision-making spaces

For developers, financial institutions, and infrastructure providers, the message was clear: there are numerous ways to contribute. Whether through discounted building, innovative financing, or collaborative project development, every organization can play a role in solving the housing crisis.

From my perspective, the path forward requires moving away from competition and towards collective action. This means being transparent, quick to respond, and committed to finding solutions together.

The Power of P4 is more than a model – it’s a mindset. It’s about recognizing that no single organization can solve complex social challenges alone. By bringing together diverse perspectives, resources, and expertise, we can create meaningful, sustainable solutions that transform communities.

The housing crisis is complex, but as this panel demonstrated, it’s not insurmountable. With courage, collaboration, and a commitment to innovation, we can build a future where everyone has a place to call home.