Canada is in the throes of a housing crisis. A lack of both availability and affordability is being exacerbated by a concurrent cost-of-living crisis, brought on by rapid and significant post-pandemic inflation. Universities and their students are also experiencing the effects of this crisis. Housing departments on campuses across Canada are feeling a pressing need to respond with support and, if possible, increased supply.
Within this context, it is thus timely to consider innovative new approaches to student housing. To this end, CAUBO has initiated a new project with the primary objective to provide members with a framework and key considerations that can be used as they develop their long-term institutional housing plans. CAUBO retained EY to develop the Framework, following a request for proposals process, and the project officially kicked off in June 2024.
The report will build on a report commissioned by CAUBO in 2012 entitled Building the Student Experience – A report on university student housing in Canada, student housing development models, and building business cases for new investment to reflect the current challenges and opportunities that impact the sector’s ability to offer student housing.
In the fall, CAUBO member institutions will be invited to participate in a survey, which will inform the report. All members are encouraged to participate in order for the report to include valuable information at the national and regional levels.