As the CEO of Blue Door, Michael Braithwaite is dedicated to developing innovative and collaborative housing, employment, and health programs aimed at preventing and ending homelessness.

As housing costs have continued to skyrocket across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, we are rapidly approaching a point where upward of 70% of households can no longer afford market rents, let alone save for a downpayment to own and carry the mortgage.

In London, England a Key Worker program is helping public service workers buy their first home, finance growing household needs for existing homeowners, facilitate shared ownership, and provide housing for rent at affordable prices.

Housing affordability in Toronto has had a profound impact on my life, shaping not only my financial reality but also my sense of stability, belonging, and future outlook. As a manager of a social work program at a large community service agency in Toronto, I

“Housing affordability impacts my ability to give my child a safe home in the GTHA, and for me to continue to work in the non-profit sector.

At 32 years old, I am currently unemployed and actively searching for permanent work. I live with my parents in Mississauga because I can’t afford rent anywhere in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). 

This question is particularly relevant to me at this moment, as my family and I have recently purchased a home in the city. The issue of housing affordability has significantly impacted my life, particularly in terms of my sense of community, both personally and professionally. Due to the rising cost of rent, we had to move out of our previous home. After much consideration, we determined that purchasing a home was our best option.

The housing affordability crisis is a complex challenge with no one-size-fits-all solution. Tackling it demands bold, multi-faceted strategies that address both immediate needs and long-term sustainability. While it can often feel like progress is out of reach, there are organizations making a real difference—even right here in the GTHA.

As Senior Director of Equity at Eva's, Shequita Thompson-Reid is unwavering in her commitment to advocating for youth facing housing instability. With a background in sociology and gender studies, her passion for social justice and equity is deeply rooted in her own experiences as a Black, first-generation immigrant woman navigating systemic barriers.