shaping housing solutions for thriving communities
For 25 years, SHS has been at the heart of housing transformation in Canada. We see housing not just as a basic need but as a fundamental right, integral to individual and community well-being.
Development
Advancing social purpose housing projects from idea to move-in
We work with our clients at every stage of the housing development process, from investigating feasibility, to navigating the approvals, construction, and operation stages.
Innovation
Uniting housing collaborators for community-led solutions
We create collaborative environments to help you and your team navigate change, design new housing models, and envision a new future for your organization.
Policy
Informing housing solutions through data-driven decision-making
We conduct socio-economic and market research and develop housing policy for communities across Canada.
Our interconnected service areas
We draw from a wide range of services for each engagement, driven by our passion for tackling housing challenges and our clients’ unique goals and geographic contexts.
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Development Services
- Feasibility stories
- Affordable housing development
- Land use planning
- Housing portfolio strategies
- Operational reviews
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Innovation Services
- Solutions Labs
- Strategic and business planning
- Program and service design
- Organizational reviews and modelling
- Systems analysis and design
- Facilitation
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Policy Services
- Policy and program development
- Housing strategies and plans
- Socioeconomic and market analysis
- Literature and best practice reviews
- Financial feasibility analysis
Our impact
We are proud of our unwavering focus on the wide range of people and communities we serve across the country. Over the past 25 years, we have built a track record of positive change in Canada's housing sector.
Community housing created for 10,000+ people
Including creating culturally appropriate places to live for Indigenous people in North Bay, supportive homes for women and children fleeing violence in the Greater Toronto Area, and more...
25,000 community members engaged over the course of 15,000 hours
Including designing new housing models with people with lived experience and co-creating a first-of-its-kind African Nova Scotian Housing Strategy...
30+ completed national-scale housing research studies
Including igniting a nation-wide conversation on the right to adequate housing in Canada and sharing best practices for affordable housing development across the country...
50+ communities impacted by affordable housing policy change
Including reaching communities from coast to coast to coast, from Whitehorse to Vancouver to Halifax...
Case studies
New Affordable Housing for Indigenous Families in Toronto
SHS is working with Wigwamen Incorporated to expand its affordable housing portfolio. At 525 Markham Road, a new six-story building will be constructed, adding 62 affordable units for Indigenous households.
This project, supported by funding from the City of Toronto and the federal government, will also feature community spaces, contributing to Toronto’s affordable housing objectives.
Rethinking Housing: A New Path to Stability and Ownership
The Housing Journeys Reimagined Solutions Lab, led by Blue Door in partnership with Habitat for Humanity GTA and SHS, challenged traditional housing pathways by exploring innovative models that provide vulnerable populations with access to homeownership benefits.
By rethinking governance, finance, and service models, the Lab developed an approach that fosters equity-building opportunities and long-term housing security.
Metro Vancouver’s Framework for Inclusionary Housing
SHS worked with Metro Vancouver Regional District to undertake an Inclusionary Zoning Policy Review, aiming to create a consistent and adaptable framework for affordable housing policies.
The model offers municipalities a voluntary tool, with recommendations on unit set-aside rates, affordability, incentives, and monitoring processes to support enhanced affordable housing options across the region.
Get in touch
We welcome a conversation about how we can help your organization achieve its goals. Let’s talk!