
Canadian housing conversations rooted in dignity.
The gist
On The Way Home treats housing as more than buildings. Through Canadian conversations on youth homelessness, supportive housing, municipal delivery, tenant services, and non-market models, it connects policy language to the daily realities of stability, dignity, and care.
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About On The Way Home
On The Way Home is a Canadian housing and homelessness series built around practical, values-driven conversations. It is careful, humane, and unusually operational. The show does not treat home as a slogan. It asks guests to define it, then follows that answer into the systems that either protect or undermine stability, safety, dignity, and belonging. Episodes move across policy, municipal implementation, supportive housing, youth homelessness, social housing operations, reconciliation, and non-market development. The range is broad. The throughline is concrete action. Conversations with guests such as Sheldon Pollitt, Robert Barnard, Jessica DeVries, Jason Miles, Bailey Wacke, Brian Doucette, Michelle Parisian, and Mark Ashton show how housing work happens at different levels of the Canadian system. Some discussions focus on partnerships and coalitions. Others examine city data, underused urban spaces, tenant service backlogs, public land, rent control choices, and the limits of market-only thinking. The show is at its strongest when it connects an institutional problem to a human consequence. A bounced cheque, a delayed rental calculation, an unsuitable shelter environment, or the absence of youth voice becomes evidence that design matters. It also leaves space for personal testimony, including recovery, addiction, chronic homelessness, and the difference made by safe supportive housing. The pacing is conversational rather than investigative. The questions are generous, but they still push toward practice. Listeners hear how programs are built, where systems strain, and why frontline knowledge matters. The result is a steady editorial window into Canadian housing work: hopeful, specific, and more interested in durable change than easy answers.
Made for: Best suited to people working in housing, homelessness, social services, municipal policy, youth support, community development, or advocacy. It also fits listeners who want a practical Canadian view of how housing solutions are built.
What sets it apart: The show pairs personal definitions of home with the operational details of housing work, moving from belonging and dignity into service design, partnerships, public land, and program delivery. Its Canadian lens keeps the issues specific rather than generic.
In their own words
On the Way Home is a podcast that brings together the voices and issues involved in ending homelessness in Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why you'd press play
Rent control, youth housing, and Helsinki's playbook give your housing-crisis frustration somewhere practical to go.
Press play if you want
- to challenge market-first housing logic with public land, preservation, and rent control
- to compare Canada's patchwork response with Finland's coordinated approach
Talks about
Podcasts like On The Way Home
Episodes
- 1
Home & Healing: Integrated Mental Health & Housing with Nicole Jones
·25m - 2
Reimagining Cities for Youth: Co-Living, Data, and the Future of Housing with Robert Barnard
·44m - 3
From Policy to Practice: Building Affordable Housing at the Municipal Level with Jessica DeVreeze
·37m - 4
From Survival to Stability: Jason Miles on Home, Recovery, and Hope
·49m - 5
Making home ownership affordable across Canada, a chat with Habitat for Humanity Canada, CEO, Pedro Barata
·51m - 6
Centering Youth Voice and Reconciliation with Bailey Waukey
·37m - 7
Thinking Beyond the Market with Brian Doucet
·1h 4m - 8
Designing Better Systems for Better Service with Michelle Parisien
·25m - 9
Meeting Young People Where They Are with Mark Aston
·45m - 10
Postcards From Helsinki: What Canada Can Learn About Ending Homelessness
·39m - 11
Scaling Care Without Losing the Human Touch with Alain Cadieux
·35m - 12
Towards Housing Justice: A Conversation with Dr. Prentiss Dantzler
·36m - 13
Housing Is Health: What Dunn House Teaches Us About Upstream Care with Dr. Andrew Boozary
·41m - 14
Reimagining Co-op Housing with Heather Tremain
·48m - 15
Building for the Long Term: How Partnerships Power Supportive Housing in Ottawa
·39m - 16
Costs vs. Prices: Adam Mongrain on Rethinking Canada’s Housing Diagnosis
·45m - 17
Re-Igniting the Future of Housing: Introducing Ontario’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund
·51m - 18
Beyond the Buzzwords: What “Scale” and "Innovation" Really Means in Housing
·53m - 19
From Evidence to Action: Nick Falvo on Paths to Ending Homelessness in Canada
·41m - 20
Heather McDonald on Built for Good and Unafraid to Be First and Fast
·53m - 21
Building Canada’s Housing Future: A Conversation with CHRA’s Ray Sullivan
·31m - 22
Building a Society That Works: Finland’s Housing First Transformation
·31m - 23
Powering Affordability: How Energy Efficiency Supports Non-Market Housing
·29m - 24
Reframing Housing: Leilani Farha on Human Rights, Financialization, and Hope
·42m - 25
Communicating Impact and Driving Systems Change in Housing
·45m - 26
Marie-Josée Houle: Advancing the Right to Housing
·48m - 27
Building Futures: The Launch of Construct Canada
·34m - 28
From Functional Zero to National Momentum: Tim Richter on What’s Next for Ending Homelessness in Canada
·36m - 29
Building Housing, Trust, and Community Power "Brique par Brique"
·40m - 30
ONPHA’s Role in Solving Ontario’s Housing Crisis and What to Expect at the 2025
·32m - 31
Disruption and Compassion in Housing Leadership with Phillip Mills
·43m - 32
Housing and Health: Building Integrated Solutions with Intention with Alex Cheng
·35m - 33
Blueprints for Change: Vicky’s Path from Construct to Community Leader
·29m - 34
Bold Ideas for a Dignified Future + Leadership, Trust, and Ending Poverty with Neil
·35m - 35
Seizing the Moment: Housing’s Historic Shift with John Fox
·32m - 36
Reimagining Housing: with Purpose and Partnership with Scott
·32m - 37
A different way to finance and build housing with Mark and Aleeya
·42m - 38
CHRA Congress 2025- Saskatoon
·37m - 39
Coalition to Build a Resilient Housing System
·35m - 40
Drilling down on the Federal Liberals' Housing Platform with Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith
·35m - 41
Black Youth Housing
·43m - 42
Dunn House- the creation of Social medicine
·1h 8m - 43
Healthcare on the move with Carolyn Dyer
·30m - 44
Bridging the Divides: Voices & Visions about Homelessness in Mid-Size Cities- A new documentary
·40m - 45
Social Housing and Human Rights Coalition with Shauna
·29m - 46
Housing, Homelessness and the Ontario Election- A Panel Discussion
·56m - 47
Encampments in Ontario and the threat of using force and punishment to clear them- a panel discussion
·1h 4m - 48
Q&A Special- with Michael Braithwaite
·31m - 49
Preventing Youth Homelessness in Wales with Bill Rowlands
·48m - 50
The United Way steps into Social Purpose Real Estate with Stefphon and Ruth
·48m - 51
Food insecurity and the affordability crisis with Sahar and Richard
·45m - 52
Housing as Infrastructure with Martin Joyce
·31m - 53
Why Government Relations strategy matters in the battle to end homelessness
·49m - 54
Making Housing Matter as a City Councilor with Ariel Troster
·37m - 55
An ounce of prevention with Melanie & Stephen
·1h - 56
How can the Non-profit sector play a bigger role in affordable housing
·1h 2m - 57
Fixing the Housing Crisis with Carolyn Whitzman
·51m - 58
Building solutions to the housing crisis with Cahdco with Adrian
·30m - 59
The annual report on Poverty in Canada
·41m - 60
The Revitalization of Regent Park with Mitchell Cohen
·1h 1m - 61
Understanding Canada's Social Landscape- With Ricardo and Liam
·50m - 62
A Great Story of Surviving and Thriving- With the Incredible Guy Felicella
·36m - 63
Sudbury's Creative Housing Solutions - With Tyler Campbell
·42m - 64
Waterfront Toronto builds Affordable Housing- With Meg Davis
·32m - 65
Experiencing Homelessness with a Disability
·53m - 66
Can decreasing taxes on new builds create new affordable housing- With Matt Young
·33m - 67
Mental health and Homelessness- With Rebecca and Keir
·53m - 68
Homelessness and Ontario’s Justice System
·49m - 69
International response to Housing Refugees
·1h 10m - 70
Being the change you want to see with Tim Coldwell
·34m - 71
Lara, Alesia, Jill and Denise: Seniors and Homelessness, a growing concern.
·52m - 72
Canadian learnings from a Housing and Homelessness Study Tour in London
·1h 3m - 73
Khulud Baid and Michele Biss: Creating Shelter Standards for Women and Gender Diverse people
·40m - 74
Senior Housing Panel
·1h 11m - 75
CMHC: Making the Connect to Capital Dollars to Build Affordable Housing
·37m - 76
Alex Sheremet: The brilliant life of Bruce Ario
·32m - 77
Negar Shahryari: Homelessness in the Middle East and Africa
·19m - 78
Andrea Nemtin: A social innovation approach to our current housing crisis
·38m - 79
Paying It Forward With Kenn Bell
·28m - 80
Jeff Neven
·37m - 81
Suzanne Fazia
·37m - 82
Sherry Larjani- Making housing happen
·32m - 83
Housing and Homelessness experts weigh in on the Federal Budget
·1h 3m - 84
Eric Tworo: The role appraisers play in the valuation of affordable housing
·26m - 85
Ian Arthur: Addressing key frictions in the building sector to address the housing and affordability crisis in Canada
·26m - 86
Homelessness Growing in Ontario with Jesse and Michael
Michael Braithwaite discusses a new report showing 80,000 people in Ontario experienced homelessness in 2024, a 22% increase from 2022, with potential to reach 300,000 in 10 years.
·35m - 87
Green Homes and Healthier Living: Michael Quast on Passive House Canada’s Vision for Sustainable Housing
·37m - 88
Diving into the Canadian “Homefront”: Housing Affordability & Innovation on Daniel Foch
·55m - 89
Housing Justice and Grassroots Change with Aislinn Clancy
·36m - 90
Boardroom to Frontline: How Collective Leadership is Reshaping Toronto’s Shelter System
·37m - 91
Bill by Bill: Unpacking Ontario’s Legislative Impact on Housing and Homelessness
·54m - 92
Tech and AI Innovations for Urban Planning with Devin Tu
·24m - 93
Looking Back, Moving Forward: Emmy Kelly Hosts a Farewell Conversation with Michael Braithwaite
·28m - 94
A new podcast on preventing youth homelessness
·42m - 95
Creating painless and affordable dental care for our most vulnerable with Ross Perry
·31m - 96
Advocating for Trans, two-spirit, queer, and disabled individuals with Trina Prince
·35m - 97
Taking action with Cheryll Case and CP Planning
·33m - 98
Basic Income Panel “Basic Guaranteed Income
·45m - 99
Lived experience and the prevention of youth homelessness with Jayne
·29m - 100
Supporting Toronto’s most vulnerable with Cari
·32m - 101
Three Decades on the Frontlines: Sheldon Polett on Canada’s Housing Crisis
Hidden gemSheldon Polett, executive director of Raising the Roof, discusses his three decades of experience in Canada's housing and homelessness sector.
Apr 16, 2026·42m·2 clips - 102
Reimagining Cities for Youth: Co-Living, Data, and the Future of Housing with Robert Barnard
Hidden gemRobert Barnard, CEO of Toboggan Flats, explains why vacant B- and C-class office buildings could become affordable co-living communities for young Canadians.
Apr 9, 2026·44m·3 clips - 103
From Policy to Practice: Building Affordable Housing at the Municipal Level with Jessica DeVreeze
Jessica DeVreeze, Affordable Housing Team Leader with the City of Airdrie, discusses how housing moves from policy ideas into real homes for people in rapidly growing communities.
Apr 2, 2026·37m - 104
From Survival to Stability: Jason Miles on Home, Recovery, and Hope
Jason Miles shares his journey from chronic homelessness and addiction to stability and hope through supportive housing.
Mar 26, 2026·49m - 105
Centering Youth Voice and Reconciliation with Bailey Waukey
Bailey Waukey discusses his work in youth reconciliation and Indigenous housing strategy, emphasizing belonging and community.
Mar 19, 2026·37m - 106
Thinking Beyond the Market with Brian Doucet
Hidden gemBrian Doucette says municipal parking lots can become non-market housing instead of being sold to the highest bidder.
Mar 12, 2026·1h 4m·2 clips - 107
Designing Better Systems for Better Service with Michelle Parisien
Hidden gemOttawa Community Housing cut a rental-calculation backlog from 30 days to under 3 days in six months.
Mar 5, 2026·25m·1 clip - 108
Meeting Young People Where They Are with Mark Aston
Hidden gemMark Ashton says about 200 young people a night are using Toronto's adult system.
Feb 26, 2026·45m·2 clips - 109
Postcards From Helsinki: What Canada Can Learn About Ending Homelessness
Hidden gem"Political will" and a service-purchase model, not budget lines, are what Mohamed Abdallah says Finland gets right.
Feb 19, 2026·39m·2 clips - 110
Scaling Care Without Losing the Human Touch with Alain Cadieux
Feb 12, 2026·35m - 111
Towards Housing Justice: A Conversation with Dr. Prentiss Dantzler
Feb 5, 2026·36m - 112
Housing Is Health: What Dunn House Teaches Us About Upstream Care with Dr. Andrew Boozary
Jan 29, 2026·41m - 113
Reimagining Co-op Housing with Heather Tremain
Jan 22, 2026·48m - 114
Building for the Long Term: How Partnerships Power Supportive Housing in Ottawa
Jan 15, 2026·39m - 115
Costs vs. Prices: Adam Mongrain on Rethinking Canada’s Housing Diagnosis
Jan 8, 2026·45m - 116
Re-Igniting the Future of Housing: Introducing Ontario’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund
Jan 1, 2026·51m - 117
Beyond the Buzzwords: What “Scale” and "Innovation" Really Means in Housing
Dec 25, 2025·53m - 118
From Evidence to Action: Nick Falvo on Paths to Ending Homelessness in Canada
Dec 18, 2025·41m - 119
Heather McDonald on Built for Good and Unafraid to Be First and Fast
Dec 11, 2025·53m - 120
Building Canada’s Housing Future: A Conversation with CHRA’s Ray Sullivan
Dec 4, 2025·31m - 121
Building a Society That Works: Finland’s Housing First Transformation
Nov 27, 2025·31m - 122
Powering Affordability: How Energy Efficiency Supports Non-Market Housing
Nov 20, 2025·29m - 123
Reframing Housing: Leilani Farha on Human Rights, Financialization, and Hope
Nov 13, 2025·42m - 124
Communicating Impact and Driving Systems Change in Housing
Nov 6, 2025·45m - 125
Marie-Josée Houle: Advancing the Right to Housing
Nov 6, 2025·48m - 126
Building Futures: The Launch of Construct Canada
Oct 23, 2025·34m - 127
From Functional Zero to National Momentum: Tim Richter on What’s Next for Ending Homelessness in Canada
Oct 16, 2025·36m - 128
Building Housing, Trust, and Community Power "Brique par Brique"
Oct 11, 2025·40m - 129
ONPHA’s Role in Solving Ontario’s Housing Crisis and What to Expect at the 2025
Oct 2, 2025·32m - 130
Disruption and Compassion in Housing Leadership with Phillip Mills
Sep 25, 2025·43m - 131
Housing and Health: Building Integrated Solutions with Intention with Alex Cheng
Sep 18, 2025·35m - 132
Blueprints for Change: Vicky’s Path from Construct to Community Leader
Sep 11, 2025·29m - 133
Bold Ideas for a Dignified Future + Leadership, Trust, and Ending Poverty with Neil
Sep 4, 2025·35m - 134
Seizing the Moment: Housing’s Historic Shift with John Fox
Aug 28, 2025·32m - 135
Reimagining Housing: with Purpose and Partnership with Scott
Aug 21, 2025·32m - 136
Home & Healing: Integrated Mental Health & Housing with Nicole Jones
Nicole Jones discusses Eden Healthcare Services' innovative supportive housing models for people with disabilities, emphasizing integrated mental health and housing.
Aug 14, 2025·25m - 137
Green Homes and Healthier Living: Michael Quast on Passive House Canada’s Vision for Sustainable Housing
Aug 7, 2025·37m - 138
Diving into the Canadian “Homefront”: Housing Affordability & Innovation on Daniel Foch
Jul 31, 2025·55m - 139
Housing Justice and Grassroots Change with Aislinn Clancy
Emi Kelly interviews MPP Aislinn Clancy about housing justice and grassroots efforts to end homelessness in Canada.
Jul 24, 2025·36m - 140
Boardroom to Frontline: How Collective Leadership is Reshaping Toronto’s Shelter System
Jul 17, 2025·37m - 141
Bill by Bill: Unpacking Ontario’s Legislative Impact on Housing and Homelessness
Jul 10, 2025·54m - 142
Tech and AI Innovations for Urban Planning with Devin Tu
Devin Tu discusses tech and AI innovations for advancing affordable housing and nonprofit housing development.
Jul 4, 2025·24m - 143
Looking Back, Moving Forward: Emmy Kelly Hosts a Farewell Conversation with Michael Braithwaite
Jun 26, 2025·28m - 144
A new podcast on preventing youth homelessness
Jun 19, 2025·42m - 145
Creating painless and affordable dental care for our most vulnerable with Ross Perry
Jun 12, 2025·31m - 146
Advocating for Trans, two-spirit, queer, and disabled individuals with Trina Prince
Jun 5, 2025·35m - 147
Taking action with Cheryll Case and CP Planning
May 28, 2025·33m - 148
Basic Income Panel “Basic Guaranteed Income
May 22, 2025·45m - 149
Lived experience and the prevention of youth homelessness with Jayne
Michael Braceway introduces a podcast episode featuring lived expert and professor Jayne Malafon discussing youth homelessness prevention and her personal journey through precarious housing.
May 15, 2025·29m - 150
Supporting Toronto’s most vulnerable with Cari
May 8, 2025·32m





