Collaborative International Series on Innovation in Housing and Homelessness

Between June 9 and 11, 2026, the inaugural International Collaborative Series on Innovation in Housing and Homelessness convened policy, research and community leaders to explore innovative approaches to homelessness.

The first international speaker was Dr. Lígia Teixeira from the U.K.-based Centre for Homelessness Impact. She provided compelling examples and case studies of using evidence to inform public policy decisions and interventions. Over three days of dialogue, site visits and knowledge exchange, participants examined emerging evidence and practical approaches to prevention, implementation and systems reform. The shared focus was on shifting from crisis response to more co-ordinated, evidence-informed solutions. Four key insights emerged:

• Ending homelessness requires systems-level change. Homelessness is driven by interconnected systems failures, so it can’t be addressed through isolated interventions. Lasting progress requires sustained, co-ordinated action that spans housing, health, income, justice and social supports. Governments should strengthen governance, align responsibilities across jurisdictions and invest in delivery systems that can implement evidence at scale.
• Prevention should become the foundation of Canada’s homelessness strategy. Emergency responses remain necessary, but the greatest opportunity lies in preventive upstream investment and early intervention. The shelter system is costly and outdated. It also causes harm. Moving away from this system should be a priority. That involves housing loss prevention and providing dignified temporary and long-term homes.
• Housing alone isn’t enough. Long-term housing stability depends on access to rights-based services, including health care, mental health and addictions services, income security, social services and opportunities for social inclusion. Governments should invest in people-centred models that combine housing with health, income and community supports, and stop interventions that consistently fail to improve outcomes.
• The test-and-learn approach provides a pathway for evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement. Researchers, practitioners, policymakers and communities should work together to test, evaluate and refine interventions. Priority actions include expanding longitudinal and disaggregated research, centering lived experience as co-leadership in program design and evaluation, and scaling interventions with measurable impacts.

Conclusions

Canada’s next National Housing Strategy presents a critical opportunity to shift from managing homelessness to preventing it. The International Collaborative Series underlined the importance of embedding evidence-based approaches into the housing policy ecosystem. Nurturing a robust test-and-learn cycle alongside research-intensive universities and colleges will help transform knowledge into action. That means putting prevention at the centre of policy, strengthening implementation capacity, fostering cross-sector collaboration and scaling interventions with measurable impacts. By acting on these priorities, Canada can build a more effective, accountable, prevention-oriented housing system.