Housing Needs Assessment Support
Housing-enabling infrastructure remains a priority under the BCSF Community stream. Housing Needs Assessments (HNAs) are valuable tools for strategically investing in housing-enabling infrastructure and addressing local housing needs. HNAs are a core component of all federal housing and infrastructure programming. AMO delivered two webinars and accompanying tools to learn how to leverage readily available data and information to optimize planning for housing needs and affordability.
Webinar 1: How to write a Housing Needs Assessment
The first webinar describes how to develop a HNA in accordance with the federal template. Participants can learn how to collect necessary data and information to improve planning for housing. This webinar provides particular support for smaller communities.
Webinar 2: How to operationalize your Housing Needs Assessment
The second webinar demonstrates how to operationalize your HNA. Participants can learn how HNAs can help address housing needs and improve capital planning through cross-departmental application of the document. This webinar provides support for all Ontario communities.
To support municipalities in completing and operationalizing their Housing Needs Assessments, AMO has developed a suite of practical resources. These tools are organized around the two webinar topics above and address the full HNA process, from data collection through to interdepartmental integration. Municipalities of all sizes are encouraged to use these resources alongside the recorded webinars.
HNA Readiness Guide
A reflective diagnostic tool to help municipalities assess their capacity before starting an HNA. This guide walks staff through key readiness dimensions, including staff capacity, data access, council buy-in, and budget, and helps identify the most appropriate pathway forward.
Data Collection Guide
A quick-reference guide structured around each section of the federal HNA template. This guide points municipalities to publicly available data sources, explains how to handle data gaps, and outlines options for community consultation, making it particularly useful for smaller municipalities with limited capacity.
FAQ Document
Answers to the most common questions that arise during the HNA process, organized by topic. Rather than simply flagging what to avoid, guidance is framed around constructive alternatives to help staff navigate common issues.
Glossary of Terms
A reference document that translates commonly misunderstood HNA terms into plain language for non-specialist staff and elected officials. Definitions are drawn from trusted sources including CMHC and Statistics Canada.
Identifying Housing Gaps
A structured framework for moving from HNA data to a clear articulation of local housing need. It helps staff analyze gaps across the full housing continuum and understand where housing shortfalls are most acute, with guidance on how to communicate findings to different audiences including council and the public.
Operationalization Checklist
A step-by-step checklist for translating HNA findings into action. It guides staff through embedding housing gap data into planning documents, asset management plans, and capital budgets, and covers how HNA findings can strengthen grant applications and development business cases.
Interdepartmental Coordination Guide
A practical guide to engaging staff across municipal departments in the HNA process. It outlines departmental roles and responsibilities, identifies key points of connection between teams, and addresses how to work with key partners to align housing-enabling infrastructure timelines with identified housing needs.