Federal government invests in 18 research projects to support housing and infrastructure needs

Last month, the federal government announced that it would be investing $10 million for 18 applied research projects that explore “specific, impactful ways” to help Canada meet its housing and infrastructure needs.

These projects aim to generate innovative, practical solutions to the housing and infrastructure challenges faced by Canadian communities. The solutions range from building a national housing data platform, to studying the impacts of transit investments on low-income and racialized communities, to combatting youth homelessness.

“These important projects will support innovative solutions that will help build more critical infrastructure and housing, faster across Canada,” said Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

The list of projects include the following architect-led initiatives.

5468796 Architecture in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is aiming to identify and leverage under-utilized land and building assets of non-government organizations to support new affordable housing development. The project, called Shared Ground: Leveraging Social Purpose Infrastructure for Affordable Housing, aims to help address the shortage of affordable housing in Winnipeg.

In Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, a project by Taylor Architecture Group Ltd. called Prototyping a Resilient Northern Home: Ongoing Barriers and Alternative Solutions aims to help study alternative housing designs that respond to the unique systems, environments, and infrastructure in remote and northern communities. The results and insights to be shared with policymakers seek to support the construction and maintenance of housing in the North.

University research also features among the selected projects.

In Toronto, a project by Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) called Navigating Transformation: A Comprehensive Study of Transit Infrastructure Investments and Their Implications for Black Renters in Toronto, aims to help conduct a study on the impacts of transit investments on low-income and racialized communities in an Ontario city, specifically tenants. The results and findings are meant to inform policy decision makers on transit investments, while ensuring the protection of vulnerable communities from displacement and unaffordable housing.

One by the University of Toronto, called Accelerating Affordable Housing Development with an AI-Assisted Platform for Partnerships aims to help create an online platform to facilitate partnerships between developers, municipalities, and lenders for innovative mixed-use projects, promoting affordable housing solutions, diverse collaborations, and increased participation from non-traditional funders.

A McGill-led project called Canadian Housing Observatory aims to help create a national online platform that brings together diverse housing data, allowing for in-depth exploration and analysis of housing issues, supporting broad insights, and promote housing education.

Meanwhile, Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, is advancing studies of 3D concrete printing technology to build more durable housing and infrastructure by conducting large-scale proof-of-concept tests through their project, 3D Printed Concrete: An Innovative, Efficient, and Resilient Solution to Canada’s Housing Needs.

The full list of projects can be found here.

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