On The Way Home

Today we are joined by Shauna McKinnon, Professor of Urban and Inner-City Studies at University of Winnipeg as well as Board member of the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation. Shauna is also a founding member of the Social Housing and Human Rights coalition. We talk to Shauna about changes in the housing landscape, the National Housing Strategy 2.0 and the important role of social housing investments to help solve the housing crisis.

Today we welcome Alana Jones, Founder and Executive Director at Borden Place. Borden Place is a supportive community housing provider based in Toronto whose program started from neighborhood concerns about a neglected rooming house. Today, through strong community and landlord relationships, Borden Place manages three locations across the GTA. Borden Place ensures that rooming houses remain an affordable option and that individuals have the support they need to thrive. Individuals receive housing, food, mental health and addictions supports, all funded through charitable donations.

This week on On the Way Home, we sit down with Emmy Kelly, former On the Way Home host and Blue Door COO, as she reflects on her next chapter. Emmy shares insights from her nearly 10 years at Blue Door, the lessons she learned from colleagues and individual service users, and the incredible housing community she had the opportunity to connect with through the podcast.

Can affordable homeownership still be part of the solution to Canada's housing crisis? In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Ene Underwood, CEO of Habitat for Humanity GTA, about the organization's ambitious new strategic plan, Raising the Bar: 2,000 Homes by 2030. Ene reflects on how the housing landscape has changed during her decade of leadership, why affordable homeownership remains a critical piece of the housing continuum, and what barriers continue to stand in the way of building the 1.5+ million homes Ontario needs. The conversation explores Habitat's unique model, common misconceptions about affordable housing, and the innovative partnerships and policy changes that could help more families achieve the stability and opportunity that comes with owning a home.

What if affordable housing could be built faster, more efficiently, and on a greater scale without sacrificing quality? In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Joshua Benard, Executive Vice President of Real Estate Development & Construction from Habitat for Humanity GTA about the organization’s new Build Factory initiative and its potential to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing. The conversation explores how factory-built construction differs from traditional methods, why the model could help address labour and efficiency challenges, and what it takes to bring innovative housing solutions from concept to reality. Josh also discusses the partnerships behind the project, common misconceptions about factory-built housing, and their vision for how the Build Factory could contribute to accelerating affordable housing development across Canada.

More than one million Ontario households are now estimated to need subsidized housing, and that number is expected to keep growing. In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly welcomes back Marlene Coffey, CEO at ONPHA, to unpack the findings of the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario’s latest report, An Update on Subsidized Housing Programs. Together, they explore why housing needs continue to outpace investment, the growing reliance on rent supplements, and what it means that rent-geared-to-income and below-market housing are projected to decline. The conversation examines the pressures facing municipalities and the role of non-profit housing providers. While the numbers are staggering, Marlene also shares what gives her hope and what we can prioritize to build a stronger and more sustainable affordable housing system for the future.

What happens when someone leaves jail with nowhere to go? In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Shannon Speirs, Executive Director of the John Howard Society of York Region, about the often-overlooked link between incarceration and homelessness. Drawing on the findings of the From Incarceration to Encampment report, Shannon explains how thousands of Ontarians are released from custody each year with no fixed address and why the justice system can become a pipeline into housing instability. She explores the barriers people face when trying to reintegrate and the policy solutions that could break this cycle. It’s a powerful conversation about prevention, dignity, and why housing must be part of any serious justice reform.

What does it mean to treat housing not just as infrastructure, but as a human right grounded in identity, culture, and self-determination? In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Margaret Pfoh, CEO of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, about the power and responsibility of Indigenous-led housing. Drawing on her roots in the Ginaxgiik Tribe and Gisputdwada Clan of the Tsimshian Nation, as well as her personal journey navigating identity after being raised outside of her culture, Margaret reflects on how her experiences shape her leadership and approach to housing. She shares how Indigenous worldviews are reshaping housing systems across British Columbia and beyond, and reflects on the transformation of AHMA, the creation of the Building BC Indigenous Housing Fund, and the importance of Indigenous leadership at every level of decision-making. The conversation also explores encampment responses, long-term planning through the Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy, and what it will take to ensure Indigenous housing solutions are fully resourced for generations to come.