An affordable home is the foundation for a healthy, stable, and dignified life – but rising rent, soaring home prices, and long waitlists for social housing have left millions of Canadians at risk of being priced out of the communities they love.
On this World Architecture Day, we’re reminded that the spaces we design and build aren’t just about structures, they’re about people.
The Scale of the Challenge
Canada needs millions of affordable homes to meet the demand. But affordability isn’t only about quantity; it’s about how those homes fit into the fabric of our communities. Placing affordable housing near schools, workplaces, and transit ensures that residents can thrive – not just survive.
The Principles Behind Good Affordable Design
- Designing for dignity: Thoughtful layouts, natural light, and safe common spaces ensure that affordability never means “less than.” Residents should feel proud of where they live.
- Designing for connection: Mixed-use neighbourhoods, green spaces, and access to transit help residents stay rooted in their communities and connected to opportunity.
- Designing for resilience: Energy-efficient materials and adaptable spaces keep costs down over time while reducing the environmental footprint.
Project Highlights
From the East Coast to the West, WalterFedy has engaged with countless stakeholders to deliver affordable housing projects.
The Loft
To revitalize Downtown Calgary and tackle the affordable housing crisis, the City of Calgary has launched an extensive initiative to convert under-utilized offices into vibrant residential living spaces. The Loft is an example of the successful implementation of this strategy.
Located on the border of the Eau Claire neighbourhood, ideally positioned near the Bow River and surrounding parks, The Loft introduces more than 55,000 SF of affordable living space into the heart of downtown Calgary with 56 one-to-two-bedroom apartment units through the conversion of a long-time vacant office building. The public amenities, like the cafe on the main level, foster interaction between residents and the local community.
House of Friendship – New ShelterCare Facility
The ShelterCare program seeks to break the cycle of homelessness by offering both shelter and health care services in the same facility to address the root causes and barriers to permanent housing.
Conveniently located near public transportation, recreational spaces and job opportunities, this 24/7 emergency shelter that will serve approximately 100 homeless men in the Waterloo region. In addition to bedrooms, the facility will include treatment rooms, a primary care medical clinic, common areas for people to engage in intentional programming and work spaces for staff.
Participants of ShelterCare will also have access to housing support, meals, and community-based wrap-around healthcare services, including mental health and addiction support.
Why It Matters
When we invest in affordable housing that prioritizes care, we’re not just building homes – we’re building futures. Stable housing gives families room to grow, students space to study, and seniors places to age with dignity. Communities become stronger, healthier, and more inclusive.
On this World Architecture Day, let’s commit to building not just more homes, but better ones.