Affordable Homes, New Jobs, Lower Carbon: Inside the Carney Housing Plan - CleanTechnica

The article discusses Canada’s acute housing affordability crisis, driven by population growth and insufficient construction, with annual housing completions (240,000–270,000 units) falling far short of the 500,000 units needed. This shortfall has led to rising rents, increased homelessness, and reduced homeownership accessibility, especially for younger Canadians. Additionally, slow construction using high-carbon materials exacerbates climate challenges by locking in emissions. In response, the federal government has launched the Build Canada Homes initiative, a $13 billion federally capitalized development agency aimed at doubling construction rates by building directly, partnering with private developers, and scaling modern construction methods. The plan leverages 88 federal properties and public resources to accelerate projects, focusing on affordable and social housing that remains permanently affordable, including supportive housing and mixed-income communities, thereby stabilizing housing markets and reducing speculative pressures. A key innovation in the plan is the emphasis on factory-built modular housing and mass timber construction, which can significantly speed up building times (by