Blog: Unlock Better Housing Solutions: Why a Housing Needs & Demands Assessment Matters
April 15, 2025
Housing
April 15, 2025
Housing
When it comes to housing, one of the most important questions any community can ask is: Are we meeting the needs of our people? A Housing Needs & Demands Assessment (HNA) helps answer that question with clarity and confidence. It’s a powerful planning tool that offers a clear, evidence-based picture of both current housing realities and future requirements.
At the Rural Development Network, we help municipalities, developers, and community leaders uncover what’s really happening in their housing landscape—and what actions will make the biggest difference. It’s important to be proactive to ensure your community is ready to take advantage of opportunities when they arise, funding or otherwise, as they often have short turnaround times to get a project off the ground.
An HNA examines three core areas:
By exploring demographic trends, household income, population growth, bedroom requirements, and housing tenure, the assessment offers a full picture of local housing dynamics.
Effective housing strategies are about more than numbers—they’re about people. That’s why community engagement is a vital part of every HNA we conduct. By listening to residents, local organizations, and community partners, we gain deeper insight into the lived experience behind the data.
Engaging the community helps ensure the housing solutions we recommend are grounded in real-world needs, culturally appropriate, and locally supported. It also builds trust, fosters collaboration, and strengthens the case for funding. Data may also be limited for rural communities, and community engagement allows us to fill in some of the data gaps.
Through surveys and community engagement sessions, we prioritize meaningful participation because the best housing solutions are co-created, not just calculated.
An HNA isn’t just a helpful reference—it’s a strategic necessity. It confirms or challenges assumptions about what a community needs and helps you make informed, confident decisions. It also offers a solid foundation for securing funding and support from government bodies.
Programs such as CMHC’s Affordable Housing Fund and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Sustainable Affordable Housing Green Municipal Fund all require or strongly recommend an HNA as part of funding applications. In short, it’s a must-have if you want to unlock housing opportunities and ensure your plans are grounded in real need.
A complete HNA includes:
Completing a Housing Needs & Demands Assessment can feel overwhelming, but that’s where we come in.
We work alongside communities to gather and analyze data, interpret findings in a meaningful way, and deliver assessments that are clear, actionable, and aligned with funder expectations. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to enhance an existing plan, we’ll tailor our support to fit your needs.
From initial consultation to final delivery, we’re your partner in building a stronger, more responsive housing strategy.
If your community is planning housing projects, applying for funding, or simply wants to understand where to focus next—let’s talk.
Together, we can build the foundation for smarter decisions, stronger funding proposals, and more effective housing solutions.
For Immediate Release- Feb 19, 2025
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with Big Lakes County to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Big Lakes County’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Big Lakes County.
“The Enabling Housing Choice North project is a unique opportunity to respond to the housing challenges facing communities in northern Alberta,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “We are excited to work with Big Lakes County to research and identify solutions that promote affordable and diverse housing options. This partnership highlights the importance of local input and collaboration in addressing complex housing needs.”
Big Lakes County is proud to be part of the “Enabling Housing Choice North” Project, part of the Rural Development Network’s Sustainable Housing Initiative” says Reeve, Tyler Airth. “Addressing housing needs is crucial to the well-being of our residents, and this project will help ensure that we can provide diverse, affordable, and sustainable housing options for years to come. As part of Council’s Strategic Plan, we are committed to being a place where people want to live and can afford to live, while also fostering sustainable economic growth. Diverse housing is a key component of this vision. Partnering with RDN and the “Enabling Housing Choice North” Project allows us to invest in a more sustainable future for Big Lakes County.
Project Goals:
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
About AREF:: Created through the Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports and strengthens Alberta’s real estate industry and benefits Albertans. Through strategic investments, we fund projects across a diverse range of initiatives designed to bolster the work of the industry, government, and our land and built environments.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
For Immediate Release- Feb 11,2025
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with Lac Cardinal Country to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
“Recognizing the need to support Municipalities in their effort to accommodate a greater diversity of housing types to meet resident needs, we are pleased to partner with the Rural Development Network and Lac Cardinal Country on this important project” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “The Enabling Housing Choice North Project aims to drive long-term policy change in Alberta’s rural communities to support long-term resiliency. We are honoured to support this critical effort.”
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Lac Cardinal Country’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Lac Cardinal Country.
The Enabling Housing Choice North Project is a pivotal initiative to address the unique housing needs of northern Alberta communities,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “We are delighted to work alongside Lac Cardinal Country to identify opportunities for increasing housing diversity and sustainability. By combining research with community collaboration, this partnership will pave the way for locally-informed solutions to meet the region’s evolving housing demands”.
“Lac Cardinal Country is excited to partner with the Rural Development Network allowing us to address the diverse and evolving housing needs of our communities, through the Sustainable Housing Initiative on the Enabling Housing Choice North Project, expressed Dave Allen, Chair of Lac Cardinal Economic Development Board. “This collaboration will ensure that our residents, irrespective of their income or background, have access to safe, affordable, and suitable housing options. This partnership will provide a more targeted approach to tackling issues such as housing shortages, affordability gaps, and the demand for housing that meet the needs of different demographics. When people have access to good housing, it encourages community growth, attracts new residents or businesses, and improves overall quality of life.”
Project Goals:
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
About AREF: Created through the Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports and strengthens Alberta’s real estate industry and benefits Albertans. Through strategic investments, we fund projects across a diverse range of initiatives designed to bolster the work of the industry, government, and our land and built environments.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
For Immediate Release- January 24, 2025
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with the Town of Peace River to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
Recognizing the need to support Municipalities in their effort to accommodate a greater diversity of housing types to meet resident needs, we are pleased to partner with the Rural Development Network and the Town of Peace River on this important project” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “The Enabling Housing Choice North project aims to drive long-term policy change in Alberta’s rural communities to support long-term resiliency. We are honoured to support this critical effort.
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Peace River’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Peace River.
“The Enabling Housing Choice North project is an impactful initiative to help improve housing diversity in northern Alberta communities, benefiting residents and fostering long-term resiliency,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “We are excited to work with the Town of Peace River to support the community in developing more housing diversity through research and planning, and to incorporate these strategies into the Guidebook that serves as a resource for communities across the country.”
“We are thrilled to partner with the Rural Development Network and Sustainable Housing Initiative on the Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable insights into our community’s housing needs and explore innovative ways to meet them.” says Mayor Elaine Manzer of the Town of Peace River.
Project Goals:
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
For Immediate Release- January 20, 2025
ENABLING HOUSING CHOICE NORTH PROJECT IN FAIRVIEW
ALBERTA — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) has partnered with the Town of Fairview to collaboratively explore locally-informed solutions that will enable diverse housing development in their community.
SHI is working to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in northern Alberta communities through its Enabling Housing Choice North Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
“Recognizing the need to support Municipalities in their effort to accommodate a greater diversity of housing types to meet resident needs, we are pleased to partner with the Rural Development Network and the Town of Fairview on this important project” says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “The Enabling Housing Choice North Project aims to drive long-term policy change in Alberta’s rural communities to support long-term resiliency. We are honoured to support this critical effort.”
The purpose of this project partnership is to perform extensive research on the challenges and opportunities that currently exist within Fairview’s housing landscape. Findings from this research will assist in responding to the diverse housing demands that emerge from Fairview.
“Improving housing choice and diversity is essential to building resilient and thriving communities,” says Lisa Belanger, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Development Network. “Through the Enabling Housing Choice North project, we are proud to partner with the Town of Fairview to identify effective approaches to meet the housing needs of current and future residents. This collaborative effort will help inform strategies for the community, and be incorporated into the Guidebook as a resource for communities across the country”.
We are thrilled to partner with the Rural Development Network on this project,” says Chair Paul Buck of the Fairview Economic Development Committee. “As our community grows, it is essential that we expand housing options to meet the diverse needs of our residents. This initiative not only supports increased housing choice, but also fosters economic development and long-term growth for Fairview. We are confident that the insights gained from this project will strengthen our community and contribute to a thriving future.
Project Goals:
To identify opportunities for enabling housing choice in Fairview through research and analysis
To understand what housing typology best serves the needs of the community
To increase affordable and diverse housing availability in Fairview
About RDN: The Rural Development Network (RDN) is a non-profit organization that works with rural, remote and Indigenous communities and organizations in Canada. We collaborate to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and develop innovative, rural-based solutions to social and economic challenges.
About AREF: Created through the Real Estate Act, the Alberta Real Estate Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization that supports and strengthens Alberta’s real estate industry and benefits Albertans. Through strategic investments, we fund projects across a diverse range of initiatives designed to bolster the work of the industry, government, and our land and built environments.
Media Contacts:
| Lisa Belanger Chief Executive Officer ceo@ruraldevelopment.ca | Joy Vonk Manager of Operations joyv@ruraldevelopment.ca |
With the housing crisis continuing to be a concern across the country, Mayerthorpe town council approved a housing report during its regular meeting last week. The Enabling Housing Choice (EHC) project report is intended to define Mayerthorpe’s housing development priorities and assist with housing grant applications, according to council’s agenda package.
“This (report) was funded through the real estate association,” Karen St. Martin, Mayerthorpe’s acting chief administrative officer, told council.
In 2023, the town worked with the Rural Development Network (RDN) on the report, investigating how to attract housing development to Mayerthorpe. The non-profit RDN runs the Sustainable Housing Initiative to support housing development through the EHC project. The town stated at the time it was looking at “the barriers and roadblocks that developers currently face in Mayerthorpe.”
The research would involve consultations with the development industry and the report was expected to be completed in May 2023. However, according to council’s agenda package last week, the report’s completion was delayed until September 2023, and council failed to approve it until recently. During council’s Feb. 26 meeting, St. Martin told council that approving the report would allow it to be published online.
Coun. Becky Wells’ motion to approve the report was carried.
One of the issues the report touches on is housing diversity, having a variety of housing types available in Mayerthorpe. Interviews in town showed participants expressed a desire to meet the needs of “a variety of demographics,” and to have something available to people of various income levels. Participants also stressed a need in Mayerthorpe for more rental options, according to the report. The report states that Mayerthorpe has two apartment buildings, one with 12 units and the other with six.
“People in Mayerthorpe are buying single-detached housing and turning them into rental units due to the shortage of rental apartments,” one interviewee is quoted as saying. “New commercial investment is generating jobs, but rental accommodations are full.”
An interviewee commented that lack of rental accommodations in Mayerthorpe will cause people to seek housing in other communities, like Whitecourt. The report also states more housing for seniors in Mayerthorpe is “urgent.”
Mayerthorpe already has tax rebates for housing development, for three years; the report recommended extending incentives for five years or more. The report further recommends amending the Land Use Bylaw to cut down on the number of residential land use districts in Mayerthorpe, from the current seven. Having seven causes inflexibility on what can be built where, hindering housing diversity, the report states.
Another recommendation is to allow more residential development in commercial and industrial districts, allowing businesses to house workers. Existing vacant lots can also be repurposed for residential development, the report recommends.
The report notes Mayerthorpe has applied for the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to support development.
The Town of Mayerthorpe used the EHC project report to apply for HAF funds, according to council’s agenda package.
The Town of Whitecourt also applied to HAF in 2023; Whitecourt adopted its housing needs assessment in January 2024.
ALBERTA – January 22, 2023 — On behalf of the Rural Development Network (RDN), the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) is excited to announce that we have completed the 2nd Phase of the Enabling Housing Choice project, which provided recommendations for increasing housing choice in six Alberta communities.
SHI is working to support housing development that is diverse and more affordable through its Enabling Housing Choice Project. This project was made possible through funding and support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF).
The purpose of this 2nd Phase has been to provide recommendation reports that promote housing choice and diversity in the Towns of Bow Island, Trochu, Mayerthorpe, Claresholm, and Pincher Creek, as well as the City of Airdrie. These reports have been informed by extensive research and community engagement, to better understand how the recommended changes can best address each community’s diverse housing needs.
“The Enabling Housing Choice is responding to the national housing crisis by working alongside municipalities in developing and implementing transformational policy change” says Linda Bernicki, Director of Community Development and Indigenous Engagement at RDN. “We are very excited to have completed the second phase of this project with these communities, and to help address the housing shortage in the community through transformational policy change.”
“This timely project seeks to find solutions to the housing crises being faced by municipalities across our province. As a foundation with real estate roots, we have the responsibility to explore how our funding programs can strengthen the real estate industry and can support consumers, whether as renters or homebuyers”, says Patti Morris, Executive Director of the Alberta Real Estate Foundation. “We are honoured to invest in this effort to support diverse, sustainable, and equitable housing development in Albertan communities.”
Next Steps For the Enabling Housing Choice Project:
For further information about the Enabling Housing Choice Project, please visit: https://www.housingredefined.ca/enabling-housing-choice-project
For more information, please contact:
MEDIA CONTACTS
Linda Bernicki
Director of Community Development and Indigenous Engagement
lindab@ruraldevelopment.ca
Holly Udall
Marketing & Communications Manager
ABOUT THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
RDN is a not-for-profit organization that facilitates, supports, and champions rural community development through collaboration, research, and service provision. RDN supports the sustainability of rural communities and works with communities to amplify the “rural voice”. RDN collaborates to identify and bring focus to rural issues, build local capacity, and find innovative, rural-based solutions to unique issues.
To learn more about RDN, visit www.ruraldevelopment.ca.
ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE
In 2015, RDN created the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) in direct response to rural communities expressing their need for support in addressing the critical lack of affordable housing. This issue has not received the same attention and resources as it has in urban centres, and comes with unique challenges requiring unique solutions. The SHI conducts research, data analysis, produces housing needs assessments, business plans, financial analyses and more. This lays the groundwork necessary for projects to access funding from governments, banks, and other sources, which is often the biggest hurdle to overcome.
To learn more about SHI, visit www.housingredefined.ca.
ABOUT THE ALBERTA REAL ESTATE FOUNDATION
The Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF) was established in 1991 to advance the real estate industry and strengthen Alberta’s communities. Created under the Real Estate Act after years of discussion between industry leaders and officials in the provincial government, the Foundation started making an impact right away by funding initiatives to help educate and train real estate professionals. AREF invests in real estate policy, research, practices, and education that strengthen Alberta’s communities.
To learn more about AREF, visit https://aref.ab.ca/.
The Qalipu First Nation is trying to improve its housing strategy by getting more information from the people who need it most.
Members of the Qalipu Nation have been travelling across western Newfoundland with the Rural Development Network, a non-profit organization from Alberta that aims to support and amplify voices in Canada’s Indigenous communities.
Qalipu is one of six First Nations the network is partnering with to create what it’s calling the First Nation Housing Data Collection Tool, which health and wellness director Mitch Blanchard says will help them better understand where programs and resources should be developed.
“We want to make sure that we have the voices of our community members heard … and make sure that programs and services, you know, is targeting and meeting the community’s needs,” Blanchard said Tuesday. “This is their voices, their stories, which is a different approach from other researches that we’ve done in the past.”
Taylor Sparklingeyes, the data collection project manager, said initial responses have gone over quite well. More than 50 people have already shared their stories, she said, with affordability and a connection to cultural lands emerging as themes.
“”It’s definitely very different perspectives from the different communities so far that we’ve engaged with. It’s very interesting to hear what different struggles they have in different locations across Newfoundland,” she said”It’s definitely very different perspectives from the different communities so far that we’ve engaged with. It’s very interesting to hear what different struggles they have in different locations across Newfoundland,” she said. “There’s really nowhere for members to go connect and be one with nature, which you know, that in itself is a form of homelessness. That loss of connection to our culture and our traditional ways of living.”
Taylor Sparklingeyes
Sparklingeyes said the goal of the data tool is for gather grassroots information that can be handed off to First Nations like the Qalipu to give them the power to make their own decisions on policy and programs. “There are so many different forms of homelessness that First Nations people experience that are often overlooked by, you know, these Western constructs of how the Canadian government defines homelessness,” she said.
“Really understanding it from a culturally appropriate lens will amplify and provide accurate data around … how some of our people are living.”
The final session wrapped up in Stephenville on Tuesday, and data collection in other regions will continue in the fall.
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