On The Way Home

By On The Way Home

On the Way Home is a podcast that brings together the voices and issues involved in ending homelessness in Canada.

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FAQs about On The Way Home:

How many episodes does On The Way Home have?

The podcast currently has 281 episodes available.

On The Way Home episodes:

July 02, 2026 Designing Ontario’s Next Housing Bill: Bold Ideas to Unlock Non-Profit Housing at Scale

What if Ontario’s next housing bill were written with a clear objective: to deliver significantly more non-profit and below-market housing across the province? In this special panel episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly moderates a forward-looking conversation with John Fox Partner at Robins Appleby LLP, Nick Gefucia Senior Vice President, Affordable Housing at EllisDon Community Builders, and Andrew McKenzie Director of Operations at the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association. Together, they explore what recent housing legislation has achieved and where there is opportunity for us to do better. The discussion explores the possibilities of what specific policies, financing tools, land strategies, and regulatory reforms could be included in the next housing bill to facilitate scale. From practical changes to bold ideas, this is a candid conversation about what it would take to fundamentally shift the trajectory of community housing in Ontario.
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50min
June 25, 2026 From Sector to System: Reimagining Canada’s Community Housing Future
What if Canada’s housing challenge is not only about supply, but about how the entire system is designed to deliver at scale? In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Lisa Ker, Executive Director of the Community Housing Transformation Centre, alongside Development Managers Joseph Daniels, Dawn Campbell, and Luc Labelle, about how community housing can evolve from a fragmented sector into a coordinated system, and ultimately a mature industry capable of meeting Canada’s growing needs. Drawing on their cross-country review of housing models in every province and territory, they unpack themes such as autonomy, risk-sharing, partnerships, and portfolio-based approaches. The conversation also offers a preview of the Centre’s new housing report being released this spring, highlighting where Canada is making progress, where it is falling short, and what policy, structural, and mindset shifts could unlock more scalable and sustainable community housing solutions.
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1h
June 18, 2026 Rethinking Student Housing: Co-ops, Community, and Equity with Nathi Zamisa
As student housing costs rise and traditional models fall short, new approaches are emerging that center community, equity, and affordability. In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Nathi Zamisa Co-Executive Director of HOUSE Canada, about how co-operative and non-profit housing can reshape the student housing landscape. Drawing on his work across Toronto and Mississauga, they explore the barriers students face today, gaps in practice and policy, and what it takes to scale non-market housing models. The conversation also highlights sustainability, and collaboration in building a more inclusive housing system and what gives him hope for what comes next.
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35min
June 11, 2026 Scaling Housing Impact with Ala’a Shadid
What does it take to lead through complexity without losing sight of long-term change? In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy speaks with Ala’a Shadid, Executive Director of the Multifaith Housing Initiative, about navigating the tension between day-to-day operations and building toward systems transformation. Ala’a reflects on his journey into housing and the realities of leadership in a sector often stuck in reactive mode, challenging us to “stop normalizing crisis” and move toward more sustainable, proactive approaches. He shares insights on partnerships, governance, and responsible growth, offering a thoughtful perspective on how organizations can scale their impact without losing their mission in an increasingly complex housing landscape.
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39min
June 04, 2026 Aging with Dignity: Community, Care, and Connection with Tom Hunter
Supporting more than 15,000 seniors across 83 buildings, Tom Hunter is leading one of Canada’s largest seniors housing portfolios at a time of growing complexity. In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with the CEO of the Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation about what it takes to help seniors age in place with dignity and stability. Tom reflects on his journey into the role, the importance of community-building initiatives like Community Connect+, and how partnerships with Ontario Health are integrating care and housing. The conversation also explores safety solutions and concerns, system pressures like Landlord and Tenant Board delays, and what the future of seniors housing needs to look like to truly support connection and well-being.
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46min
May 28, 2026 Supportive Housing as Community Infrastructure: A Conversation with Victor Willis
In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Victor Willis, Lead of the Toronto Mental Health & Addictions Supportive Housing Network, about the critical role supportive housing plays in strengthening communities and addressing gaps in housing and our communities. Drawing on more than 30 years in community development, Victor explains what supportive housing is, why it exists, and how collaboration between nonprofits, municipalities, and land trusts can create lasting affordability and community control. He reflects on expanding PARC’s housing portfolio in partnership with the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust, the role of social purpose real estate in poverty reduction, and the broader societal benefits of investing in supportive housing across Toronto and beyond.
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57min
May 21, 2026 Strengthening Supports and Futures: A Conversation with Jen Crowe
In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Jen Crowe, Executive Director of Choices for Youth, about the evolving landscape of youth homelessness in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada. Jen shares insights into the unique realities facing young people in both urban and rural communities, explains how a systems-focused and equity-driven approach can address root causes rather than just crisis, and outlines the impact of the Family and Natural Supports model in preventing homelessness. She also discusses innovative housing strategies, including a portfolio-based approach to affordable housing, and the launch of Becket Integrated Youth Services, a province-wide initiative transforming how young people access mental health and social supports. Drawing on both local and national perspectives, Jen highlights the policy shifts needed to truly end youth homelessness and what gives her hope for the future
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54min
May 14, 2026 Reconciliation in Practice: A Conversation with Deliah Bernard
In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Deliah Bernard, Partner at Root Strategies, about what meaningful reconciliation looks like in practice and how relationships, leadership, and listening shape lasting change. Drawing on her experience working alongside Indigenous communities and advising on major national initiatives, including serving as Senior Indigenous Affairs Advisor in the Office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Deliah shares reflections on centering Indigenous voices in decision-making, building trust across sectors, and understanding housing as connected to dignity, culture, and self-determination. She discusses lessons learned from moments of crisis and healing, practices that help sustain respectful collaboration, and the changes she hopes to see in the coming decade as Indigenous communities continue to lead and shape their own futures.
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23min
May 07, 2026 Where Mental Health, Housing, and Hope Meet: A Conversation with Alyse Bernbaum
In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with Alyse Bernbaum, Executive Director of the Aubrey & Marla Dan Foundation, about the deep connection between youth mental health and youth homelessness, and the role early intervention and wraparound care play in changing life trajectories. Alyse shares her journey into this work, reflects on how these challenges show up in young people’s daily lives, and discusses how meaningful partnership and programs like Blue Door’s Construct help build confidence, stability, and a sense of purpose beyond employment. She explores what is truly moving the needle in the sector, where young people continue to fall through the cracks, the Foundation's focus and what kind of change is needed so more communities can create pathways to stability, belonging, and hope.

Explore the Construct Canada Portal, flexible online learning designed to support and enhance your programming. Visit www.constructgta.ca to learn more and book a demo.
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34min
April 30, 2026 Learning from Global Models: Homelessness Trends and Study Tours with Nick Falvo
What could Canada learn if we looked beyond our own borders at how other countries are tackling homelessness? In this episode of On the Way Home, Emmy Kelly speaks with leading housing researcher Nick Falvo about why global learning can be a powerful tool for local change. Drawing on his work across Canada and internationally, Nick shares what’s shifting in homelessness policy and where we may still be getting it wrong. He also offers a behind-the-scenes look at his upcoming 2027 study tour to Amsterdam and Rotterdam, including what participants will experience, why these cities were chosen, and how insights from the tour can be applied back home. With registration opening May 1, 2026, the conversation explores who these opportunities are for, what makes them valuable, and how knowledge-sharing can extend far beyond those who attend.

Explore the Construct Canada Portal, flexible online learning designed to support and enhance your programming. Visit www.constructgta.ca to learn more and book a demo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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32min

FAQs about On The Way Home:

How many episodes does On The Way Home have?

The podcast currently has 281 episodes available.