Rhetoric and Reality Canada U.S Relationship in the age of Political Noise

Renting used to be messy, local, and human — references, conversations, and reputations mattered. Over time, lenders’ tools — credit bureaus, scores, eviction databases, and algorithmic screening — migrated into the rental market and turned tenants into borrowers to be underwritten.

That shift created a power imbalance: landlords became risk managers, applicants faced blunt rules (minimum scores, income multipliers, strict eviction filters), and people with complicated financial lives were excluded by proxies that never measured actual rent behavior.

This episode explains how that happened, why it matters, and outlines fairer alternatives: prioritize verified rental history, require transparent denials and appeals, cap application fees, use realistic income assessments, reduce penalties for poverty, and treat housing as a shared social good rather than a pure commodity.

Bottom line: the credit‑score takeover of renting was a set of choices — and those systems can be redesigned to make housing more just and stable.

This episode breaks down how NIMBYism—“Not In My Back Yard”—turns reasonable worries into barriers that keep people unhoused. We unpack the emotional fears, the common myths about who becomes homeless, and the structural causes like housing costs, low wages, healthcare gaps, and criminal-legal barriers.

Then we shift to solutions: more deeply affordable housing, prevention and emergency assistance, supportive services, and accountable project planning that treats people like neighbors instead of hazards. If the conversation makes you uncomfortable, lean into it—that’s where change starts.

nimbyism, the barrier between real solutions

winter survival, homelessness in the cold

continued why communities can't stand still

Welcome back to the North of Fair podcast on Podbean Live.

This episode explains why “standing still” isn’t neutral: keeping the same rules and housing patterns pushes prices up and pushes people out. We define deeply affordable housing, show how single‑family zoning limits supply and access, and explain how modest zoning changes (duplexes, triplexes, backyard homes) can stabilize neighborhoods without erasing character.

Listen for practical signs of meaningful change and actions you can take—learn your zoning map, show up to meetings, and push for policies that build homes people can actually afford so communities stay inclusive and functional.

10,000 deeply affordable homes building around a crisis

cost of living, food, rent, ODSP, living wage, GST proposal

Today’s episode breaks down non-market housing—co‑ops, social and non‑profit units, and rent‑geared‑to‑income homes—and explains why Canada’s existing stock (roughly 600,000–700,000 units) still leaves a gap of about 250,000 deeply affordable homes.

We connect the numbers to real lives: people on ODSP, OW, OAS/GIS, and low‑wage workers face housing instability that market supply alone won’t fix. The episode argues for a durable, mixed approach to build homes priced to incomes, not profits, so people can live with stability and dignity.