Housing strategy to streamline actions

Summary#

Council approved two directions to City staff on the existing Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy 2024–2030. The directions aim to streamline the strategy’s implementation plan, improve its success measures and bring back more detail on possible funding and service levels; they do not approve new housing funding or services.

  • City staff must return to committee by Q3 2026 with streamlined implementation actions and refined measures of success.
  • City staff must identify specific funding and service levels for “Scope Options” and bring them to the Community Development Committee on July 13, 2026.
  • Council amended the funding direction, replacing the committee’s earlier recommendation to consider Chief Housing Office funding alongside other City priorities and focus on leveraging funding from other governments.

What it means for you#

  • Residents: The decision does not directly change housing eligibility, rents, housing services or the number of homes built. It directs City staff to report back.
  • City staff: They must prepare the requested strategy and funding information by the stated dates. The decision does not require Council to approve any funding or service levels later.

Money#

No cost estimate is provided in the available material.

  • The directions require staff work, but the materials give no estimate of its cost.
  • The July report must identify possible funding and service levels; Council has not approved that funding or those services.

What is unclear#

  • What “Scope Options” means, and which housing services or activities they cover.
  • What funding or service levels staff will propose, and whether they will involve money from other governments.
  • What Council will decide after receiving the reports, or whether any changes will be made to the strategy.

Case for#

  • The Council Advisory Committee on Housing said the strategy had made progress on housing supply and choice, but that affordability remained a serious problem and non-market housing was below its stated annual target of 3,000 units. Better measures could help Council assess progress against these needs.
  • The committee also said more funding and support were needed for non-market housing. Asking staff to identify specific funding and service levels could give Council clearer choices.

Case against#

  • The decision does not itself fund housing or add services, so it may not address the housing needs raised by the Council Advisory Committee on Housing before further decisions are made.
  • Councillors Ward, Jamieson, Chabot, Wyness, Johnston and McLean voted against the direction to streamline actions and refine measures. Councillors Jamieson and Tyers voted against the direction on funding and service levels. The minutes do not give their reasons.

Votes

Calgary City Council, item 7.9 (Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy Update, CD2026-0238): That with respect to Report CD2026-0238, the following amendment be adopted: That the Home is Here - City of Calgary's Housing Strategy Update CD2026-0238 be amended by deleting Recommendation 2 in its entirety and substituting with the following: - Identify specific funding and service levels relating to Scope Options to be brought to the July 13th, 2026 Community Development Committee.

For (100%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.9 (Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy Update, CD2026-0238): That with respect to Report CD2026-0238, the following be adopted, as amended: That Council direct Administration to: - Streamline actions detailed in the implementation plan and refine key measures of success for Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy 2024-2030, and return to Committee by Q3 2026; and

For (60%)
Against (40%)

Calgary City Council, item 7.9 (Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy Update, CD2026-0238): That with respect to Report CD2026-0238, the following be adopted, as amended: That Council direct Administration to: - Identify specific funding and service levels relating to Scope Options to be brought to the July 13th, 2026 Community Development Committee.

For (87%)
Against (13%)

Community Development Committee, item 7.3 (Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy Update, CD2026-0238): That with respect to Report CD2026-0238, the following be approved: That the Community Development Committee recommend that Council direct Administration to: - Streamline actions detailed in the implementation plan and refine key measures of success for Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy 2024-2030, and return to Committee by Q3 2026 and;

For (88%)
Against (13%)

Community Development Committee, item 7.3 (Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy Update, CD2026-0238): That with respect to Report CD2026-0238, the following be approved: That the Community Development Committee recommend that Council direct Administration to: - Consider the “Gaining Footing” Chief Housing Office funding scope alongside The City’s other funding priorities, with a focus on leveraging capital from other orders of government, as part of the 2027-2030 Business Plans and Budgets process…

For (75%)
Against (25%)