Carolyn Whitzman
@cwhitzman.bsky.social
Senior housing researcher, University of Toronto School of Cities. Author, “Clara at the Door with a Revolver”(2023), “Home Truths: Fixing Canada’s Housing Crisis” ( 2024).
Pinned
Carolyn Whitzman
@cwhitzman.bsky.social
· Nov 10
I recently published a paper for @irpp.bsky.social about how the enable deeply affordable homes with supports, the only proven way to end homelessness irpp.org/research-stu...
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
Landmark move: New York City's comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social, with hundreds of billions under his control, recommends dropping investment giant Blackrock because they won't reckon with climate change.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
NYC’s Lander Recommends Dropping $42 Billion BlackRock Mandate
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is urging three of the city’s pension funds to drop BlackRock Inc. because of “inadequate” climate plans, the latest move to penalize investment firms for failing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Landmark move: New York City's comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social, with hundreds of billions under his control, recommends dropping investment giant Blackrock because they won't reckon with climate change.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
Here's the info for the Ottawa screening! I'm looking forward to this event, especially since @cwhitzman.bsky.social & I will talk housing as part of the Q&A discussion after the film!
The event is free & all are welcome
The event is free & all are welcome
November 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Here's the info for the Ottawa screening! I'm looking forward to this event, especially since @cwhitzman.bsky.social & I will talk housing as part of the Q&A discussion after the film!
The event is free & all are welcome
The event is free & all are welcome
It’s been a while since I’ve seen an all white male panel like this (not shown: 2 online panelists, 1 moderator - also pale male) but worship of Ed Glaeser is a must as well
November 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
It’s been a while since I’ve seen an all white male panel like this (not shown: 2 online panelists, 1 moderator - also pale male) but worship of Ed Glaeser is a must as well
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
This is really important.
The main thing that makes it hard to achieve integrated nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the more well-designed and integrated density of people & buildings you achieve, the fewer cars you need or want.
The main thing that makes it hard to achieve integrated nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the more well-designed and integrated density of people & buildings you achieve, the fewer cars you need or want.
November 9, 2025 at 8:09 AM
This is really important.
The main thing that makes it hard to achieve integrated nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the more well-designed and integrated density of people & buildings you achieve, the fewer cars you need or want.
The main thing that makes it hard to achieve integrated nature and green in cities isn’t density of buildings or density of people — it's density of cars. And the more well-designed and integrated density of people & buildings you achieve, the fewer cars you need or want.
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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November 6, 2025 at 10:16 PM
What the federal budget means for cities this Thursday noon ET - moderated by @canurb.bsky.social featuring @fcm.ca @thehubcanada.bsky.social & @uoftcities.bsky.social (me) us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: 2025 CityTalk | Live — "There’s the Money! What The Federal Budget Means For City Building". After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about ...
The local impact of national priorities: what the budget really means for Canadian communities.
The 2025 federal budget sets the tone for how Canada plans to tackle its biggest challenges — housing, ...
us06web.zoom.us
November 4, 2025 at 7:18 PM
What the federal budget means for cities this Thursday noon ET - moderated by @canurb.bsky.social featuring @fcm.ca @thehubcanada.bsky.social & @uoftcities.bsky.social (me) us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
Nov. 9: Join Carolyn Whitzman Senior Housing Researcher, for a talk at Koffler Arts about artist Tracey Snelling’s Intergalactic Planetary exhibition and how they both explore the ways that marginalized communities navigate and shape urban spaces https://ow.ly/ucnx50Xl6mB
November 4, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Nov. 9: Join Carolyn Whitzman Senior Housing Researcher, for a talk at Koffler Arts about artist Tracey Snelling’s Intergalactic Planetary exhibition and how they both explore the ways that marginalized communities navigate and shape urban spaces https://ow.ly/ucnx50Xl6mB
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
We'll be discussing @cwhitzman.bsky.social's book Home Truths on November 23rd, 2pm, downtown Kitchener. DM us for the address if you'd like to join this book club!
To do this, housing experts @cwhitzman.bsky.social
and Priya Perwani call for the creation of “at least 4.4 million affordable homes" to meet the target of 20 percent of our housing stock being affordable. maytree.com/publications...
and Priya Perwani call for the creation of “at least 4.4 million affordable homes" to meet the target of 20 percent of our housing stock being affordable. maytree.com/publications...
Scaling up affordable housing through a ‘Build Canada Homes’ proposal
With a $40B annual investment, "Build Canada Homes" could deliver 200,000 non-market housing units annually – 40% of federal targets – by partnering with non-market developers and retaining government...
maytree.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:57 PM
We'll be discussing @cwhitzman.bsky.social's book Home Truths on November 23rd, 2pm, downtown Kitchener. DM us for the address if you'd like to join this book club!
This is a great article - great visuals & great summary of why we need 4 storey apartments with single egress everywhere in North American cities.
Canada needs livable apartments to help fix the housing crisis. To do that, it must change the rulebook for both condos and rentals
by @theglobeandmail.com’s Erica Alini
h/t @blairscorgie.bsky.social
Cc: @uoftcities.bsky.social @housingnowto.bsky.social @cwhitzman.bsky.social
by @theglobeandmail.com’s Erica Alini
h/t @blairscorgie.bsky.social
Cc: @uoftcities.bsky.social @housingnowto.bsky.social @cwhitzman.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 11:38 PM
This is a great article - great visuals & great summary of why we need 4 storey apartments with single egress everywhere in North American cities.
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
October 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
who creates the lively art and music scenes if the rent is too high? who makes cultural life? who serves you food or washes your dishes? who creates the fancy little restaurants that draw you to urban living? affordable housing is at the heart of what makes city life worthwhile.
October 26, 2025 at 6:04 AM
who creates the lively art and music scenes if the rent is too high? who makes cultural life? who serves you food or washes your dishes? who creates the fancy little restaurants that draw you to urban living? affordable housing is at the heart of what makes city life worthwhile.
Bravo. Toronto - and Canada - need this. www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/art-...
A dense, urban Canada? It’s possible
A specific, provocative proposal for how Toronto might evolve offers good ideas
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Bravo. Toronto - and Canada - need this. www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/art-...
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
Toronto recently allowed more 6 storey apartments on Major Streets but what would it take to make "courtyard" apartment blocks?
* 4-6 storey permissions on adjacent streets
* front yard setbacks of 2 m or less
* single stair and European elevator standards
* modest garbage room in the basement
* 4-6 storey permissions on adjacent streets
* front yard setbacks of 2 m or less
* single stair and European elevator standards
* modest garbage room in the basement
Imagine a city of great apartments where everyone knows their neighbours. The Neptis Foundation has a vision: www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/art-...
A dense, urban Canada? It’s possible
A specific, provocative proposal for how Toronto might evolve offers good ideas
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Toronto recently allowed more 6 storey apartments on Major Streets but what would it take to make "courtyard" apartment blocks?
* 4-6 storey permissions on adjacent streets
* front yard setbacks of 2 m or less
* single stair and European elevator standards
* modest garbage room in the basement
* 4-6 storey permissions on adjacent streets
* front yard setbacks of 2 m or less
* single stair and European elevator standards
* modest garbage room in the basement
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
The solutions proposed for New Zealand's (and virtually every other country's) problems are always like:
"We need to make people work for more years"
"We have to cut back on services, I'm sorry, there is just no other way"
"We have to cut benefits for young people"
never:
"We need to tax the rich"
"We need to make people work for more years"
"We have to cut back on services, I'm sorry, there is just no other way"
"We have to cut benefits for young people"
never:
"We need to tax the rich"
October 12, 2025 at 6:52 AM
The solutions proposed for New Zealand's (and virtually every other country's) problems are always like:
"We need to make people work for more years"
"We have to cut back on services, I'm sorry, there is just no other way"
"We have to cut benefits for young people"
never:
"We need to tax the rich"
"We need to make people work for more years"
"We have to cut back on services, I'm sorry, there is just no other way"
"We have to cut benefits for young people"
never:
"We need to tax the rich"
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
repost this if an editor has ever saved you from yourself
An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.
October 8, 2025 at 10:44 PM
repost this if an editor has ever saved you from yourself
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
This is why we need bus lands on Bank Street. We don’t need extensive consultations or debates or both side-ism to find a “balance;” we need bold action, bold leadership to design public space in the public interest and just do it. @strongtownsottawa.ca
Between the bus-only lanes, and the off-ramp detours, we’ve barely slowed down. Unless you’re on a bus, it’s a parking lot out there.
October 8, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This is why we need bus lands on Bank Street. We don’t need extensive consultations or debates or both side-ism to find a “balance;” we need bold action, bold leadership to design public space in the public interest and just do it. @strongtownsottawa.ca
The underlying assumptions of 4 competing federal housing need assessments betray different visions of ‘housing 4all’. Featuring my rights-based work for @housinglogement.bsky.social spacing.ca/vancouver/20...
Four Projections, One Crisis - Spacing Vancouver
What happens when four different reports give four different answers to the same housing question? Every few months, a new report is released with a headline number meant to define the scale of Canada...
spacing.ca
October 6, 2025 at 10:10 PM
The underlying assumptions of 4 competing federal housing need assessments betray different visions of ‘housing 4all’. Featuring my rights-based work for @housinglogement.bsky.social spacing.ca/vancouver/20...
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
@cwhitzman.bsky.social co-authored this report, funded by Maytree, as the culmination of a project working with non-market developers to find a model that Build Canada Homes could employ to unlock affordability in innovative, scalable, sustainable ways schoolofcities.utoro...
September 29, 2025 at 4:00 PM
@cwhitzman.bsky.social co-authored this report, funded by Maytree, as the culmination of a project working with non-market developers to find a model that Build Canada Homes could employ to unlock affordability in innovative, scalable, sustainable ways schoolofcities.utoro...
For those of you who missed the CUI/Maytree Citytalk last week on scaling up government-built housing with @tylermeredith.bsky.social & Graeme Hussey, the recording is up! citytalkcanada.ca/discussions/...
Tackling Canada's housing crisis: How the federal government can build at scale now - City Talk
Note to Readers: This discussion was created in partnership with CUI's valued partner, Maytree. Cover photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash.
citytalkcanada.ca
October 1, 2025 at 7:58 PM
For those of you who missed the CUI/Maytree Citytalk last week on scaling up government-built housing with @tylermeredith.bsky.social & Graeme Hussey, the recording is up! citytalkcanada.ca/discussions/...
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
CEO pay is up 1,094% since 1978, while worker pay is up just 26%.
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
September 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM
CEO pay is up 1,094% since 1978, while worker pay is up just 26%.
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
Why do we always hear "we can't afford to pay our workers more" but never "we can't afford to pay our CEO more"?
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
Great episode, as always.
Canada would be well-advised to accommodate EU elevators codes (and other elements of the building code). Especially in today’s age where we are looking to diversify trade relations and tying ourselves exclusively to the US market has become particularly problematic.
Canada would be well-advised to accommodate EU elevators codes (and other elements of the building code). Especially in today’s age where we are looking to diversify trade relations and tying ourselves exclusively to the US market has become particularly problematic.
In part 2 of our series on misaligned incentives in housing policy, the UCLA Housing Voice Podcast speaks with @stephenjacobsmith.com about the high cost of elevators in North America, and the negative consequences for affordability and accessibility. www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/09/24/9...
Episode 98: Elevators with Stephen Smith (Incentives Series pt. 2)
Elevators in the U.S. and Canada cost 3–5x as much as in other high-income countries. Stephen Smith explains how our well-intentioned standards make cities less safe and accessible.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
September 26, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Great episode, as always.
Canada would be well-advised to accommodate EU elevators codes (and other elements of the building code). Especially in today’s age where we are looking to diversify trade relations and tying ourselves exclusively to the US market has become particularly problematic.
Canada would be well-advised to accommodate EU elevators codes (and other elements of the building code). Especially in today’s age where we are looking to diversify trade relations and tying ourselves exclusively to the US market has become particularly problematic.
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
Single-stair stacked-flats, next to the park.
33' lots.
Each floor plate is 24' x 56' and can have one "family size" 3Br flat, or two small units.
33' lots.
Each floor plate is 24' x 56' and can have one "family size" 3Br flat, or two small units.
September 25, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Single-stair stacked-flats, next to the park.
33' lots.
Each floor plate is 24' x 56' and can have one "family size" 3Br flat, or two small units.
33' lots.
Each floor plate is 24' x 56' and can have one "family size" 3Br flat, or two small units.
Reposted by Carolyn Whitzman
Microsoft will no longer allow Israel to use its cloud services to enable its mass surveillance of occupied Palestinians – "the first known case of a US technology company withdrawing services provided to the Israeli military since the beginning of its war on Gaza"
Microsoft blocks Israel’s use of its technology in mass surveillance of Palestinians
Exclusive: Tech firm ends military unit’s access to AI and data services after Guardian reveals secret spy project
www.theguardian.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Microsoft will no longer allow Israel to use its cloud services to enable its mass surveillance of occupied Palestinians – "the first known case of a US technology company withdrawing services provided to the Israeli military since the beginning of its war on Gaza"
If you're interested in how the Canadian federal government can build affordable housing at scale now, please join us next Thursday, September 25 at noon ET for a great webinar: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: CityTalk Live - "Tackling Canada’s housing crisis: How the federal government can build at scale now". After registering, you will receive a confirmation em...
Canada needs at least 4.4 million affordable homes, including three million deeply affordable homes for very low- and low-income households, to end homelessness and fulfil the right to adequate housin...
us06web.zoom.us
September 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
If you're interested in how the Canadian federal government can build affordable housing at scale now, please join us next Thursday, September 25 at noon ET for a great webinar: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
The often ignored word ‘universal’ is key to human rights www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/c31f2f5...
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights should not be written off as a failure
The aim of treating everyone with respect is not a lofty goal beyond our reach. It’s where we are meant to begin
www.theglobeandmail.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:31 AM
The often ignored word ‘universal’ is key to human rights www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/c31f2f5...