THe SHift's Resources

The federal government has announced bold initiatives that signal a desire to make transformative change in housing. Chief among them is the promise to “get back in the business of building homes” through a new entity: Build Canada Homes (BCH). Envisioned as the federal vehicle for scaling affordable homebuilding, BCH’s mandate is twofold: build housing at scale, and build faster, better, and smarter. Yet here lies the paradox: these urgent goals are unlikely to be achieved through reliance on new construction.

This submission by The Shift outlines how Budget 2025 can drive a Housing Mission rooted in human rights that can make access to affordable and adequate housing for all a reality in Canada.

A resource packet for Canadian municipalities.

This guide outlines a human rights-based approach to addressing homeless encampments in Canada, highlighting how municipalities can move beyond ineffective traditional tactics toward solutions that preserve dignity and safety for vulnerable populations, while recognizing the need for greater inter-jurisdictional cooperation and resource support from higher levels of government.

This document presents a National Encampment Response Road Map developed by The Shift and BGM Strategy Group, outlining essential steps for implementing rights-based approaches to addressing homeless encampments across Canadian municipalities, in alignment with federal funding commitments and human rights principles.

In an urgent letter sent to Mayor Cherelle Parker on December 9th, 2024, Philadelphia’s Chinatown community leaders and advocates have raised profound concerns about the proposed 76 Place arena development. The letter details the community’s sustained opposition to the project, which threatens to fundamentally alter the neighborhood’s social, cultural, and economic landscape.

Community members argue that the current arena planning process has systematically excluded their voices, leaving them without meaningful opportunity to participate in decisions that will directly impact their neighborhood. The proposed arena, set to be constructed in the Fashion District adjacent to Chinatown, poses significant risks to the community’s cultural heritage, housing stability, and long-term well-being.

The letter to the Mayor articulates the community’s primary concerns, including potential displacement, cultural disruption, and the erosion of a historic neighborhood that has been a vital center of Philadelphia’s Asian American community for generations.